SPARTANBURG, SC— Hunter Gilbert's two-run single to right field in the bottom of the ninth provided USC Upstate with a walk-off win over visiting NJIT, 13-12, Saturday afternoon in the final regular season game for both teams at Harley Park.

The 20 hits are a season-best for the Highlanders, who conclude 2017 with a 9-40 overall mark, 2-19 in ASUN action.  USC Upstate pounded out 18 hits in the win, finishing the season at 24-31 overall, 8-14 in the conference.

USC Upstate pulled ahead early 5-0 after two innings but the visiting Highlanders tacked on five runs in the fourth, thanks to a two-run homer run by 1B Alex Burman and a three-run shot C Cody Kramer, knotting the game at 5-5. 

The visitors took its first lead of the game in the top of the fifth, 6-5, and added an insurance run in the top of the sixth, holding a 7-5 lead. 

The home team scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to regain the lead, 9-7, and added a single run in the bottom of the eighth, taking a 10-7 advantage. 

NJIT plated five runs in the top of the ninth with two outs, breaking the10-10 tie and pulling ahead, 12-10, after a double to right field by Evan Pietronico.

USC Upstate's Hunter Gilbert recorded a walk-off two-run single to right field for Upstate as the Spartans held on to a 13-12 victory.

The Spartans fourth pitcher, Will Wheeler (2-1) was credited with the win, pitching 0.1 inning, allowing one hit.

USC Upstate C Charlie Carpenter finished 2-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored followed by LF Pat Raiff, who finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored.  RF JJ Shimko, SS Jake Bourke and DH Gilbert each drove in a pair of runs for the Spartans.

For NJIT, senior Bryan Haberstroh (1-3) took the loss in his final collegiate game, pitching 1.2 innings.  NJIT's second and third pitcher – Brent Jones and Tommy Derer, each pitched 2.0 innings, holding the Spartans scoreless in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

Highlander senior C Cody Kramer wrapped up his four-year career at NJIT, going 4-for-6 with four RBI and three runs, including a three-run home run in the fourth.  RF Evan Pietronico (2-for-5) and 1B Alex Burman (3-for-5) each drove in a pair of runs. 

LF Matthew Cocciadiferro and Kramer led the Highlanders, going 4-for-6 and SS Justin Etts combined for a 3-for-6 performance with one RBI and two runs scored.

USC Upstate got on the board in the bottom of the first on back-to-back home runs by Pat Raiff and Charlie Carpenter for a 2-0 lead.  Jake Bourke drove in the Spartans third run on the inning on a single through the right side, taking a 3-0 advantage.

The Spartans rallied in the bottom of the second with two outs, adding a pair of runs on the second home run of the day by Carpenter, pushing the Spartan lead to 5-0.

NJIT answered in the top of the fourth, scoring five runs on five hits, knotting the game at 5-5.  NJIT's Burman hit a two-run homer to right field while Kramer, with two outs, sent out a three-run home run to left field, his first of the season.

The Highlanders took its first lead of the game in the top of the fifth on a single through the left side by Rex MacMillan, scoring 2B Tom Brady, who walked to lead off the inning.

NJIT plated a single run in the top of the sixth with runners at first and second on a fielder's choice by Brady, who advanced to second on a Spartan throwing error and advanced Kramer home to score the Highlanders seventh run of the game, 7-5.

The home team regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh, scoring four runs on two hits and one Highlander error for a 9-7 advantage and added a single run in the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Raiff, taking a 10-7 lead.

NJIT, trailing 10-7 in the top of the ninth with two outs and runners at the corner, the Highlanders knotted the score at 10-10 after three consecutive singles coming from Jesse Uttendorfer, SS Justin Etts and C Cody Kramer.  The Highlanders went ahead, 12-10, scoring a pair of runs off a double to right field by Evan Pietronico.

With bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, Hunter Gilbert recorded a walk-off two-run single to right field, which provided the Spartans a 13-12 victory.

NJIT's senior trio Rex MacMillan, Bryan Haberstroh and Cody Kramer complete their four-year career as a Highlander.

Kramer, one of three captains on the Highlanders squad, recorded his 100th career hit on May 6 vs. NYIT (2017). Kramer finishes the 2017 season hitting, .295 (2nd on team).  Enrolled in NJIT's Albert Dorman Honors College, Kramer graduated NJIT in May with Summa Cum Laude Honors with a bachelors in biology and minor in history, while earning Dean's List every semester, holding a 4.0 GPA.  Kramer will begin to apply to medical school in June.

MacMillan, who played multiple positions for the Highlanders in 2017, concludes his four-year career at NJIT, starting the last 11 games at either third base or shortstop.  He notched his first collegiate home run in walk-off fashion in the Highlanders 13-12 come-from-behind victory against Fairfield on May 2.

Haberstroh, concludes his senior season with a .241 batting average, including 26 hits, nine RBI, three doubles and three home runs while on the mound, recorded a 1-3 record with four saves.  His 4.15 ERA is second on the team in 27.2 innings pitched, making 12 appearances and two starts.

NJIT's sophomore Michael Anastasia, who suffered a broken arm on May 7, leads the ASUN with a .373 batting average and .463 on-base percentage. He ranks eighth in the league in doubles (14) and slugging percentage .507 while topping the Highlanders in doubles (14) and hits (56) in 42 games played. He currently holds a 12-game hit streak and has hit safely in the last 23-out-of-25 games. The Highlander outfielder notched a career-best 4-for-5 performance with six RBI and four runs scored in the Highlanders 17-1 victory over Saint Peter's.

The Highlanders top freshman was Matthew Cocciadiferro, who notched a .277 batting average, ranking tied for first in doubles (14) and home runs (4) and tied for second on the team in hits (52).