PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA—NJIT swept Sunday's doubleheader at Villanova, 3-2, and 1-0, as Tommy Derer earned his first win of the season in game one and scored the game-winning run in the eighth of game two on a wild pitch to secure the sweep for the Highlanders in non-conference baseball action on Villanova Ballpark.

With the doubleheader sweep over Villanova, sixth-year head coach Brian Guiliana registers his 100^th career coaching victory.

NJIT, which surpassed its win total from last season, moves to 10-8 on the season with the pair of wins over Big East opponent Villanova. 

With bases loaded in the top of the eighth (in a scheduled seven-inning contest) of game two, Derer scored the game-winning run with bases loaded on a wild pitch.

Tied at 2-2 heading into the top of the ninth of game one, NJIT senior CF Jesse Uttendorfer started off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. 

NJIT put runners on first and second after a walk to 3B David Marcano and a stolen base by Uttendorfer advanced runners on the corners.  A throwing error by the Wildcat catcher, advanced Uttendorfer home, for the ensuing game-winning run, 3-2.

Game Two
NJIT 1, Villanova 0 (Final)

NJIT struck first in a scoreless game in the top of the eighth, with bases loaded, as Derer scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch for a 1-0 lead.  DH Alex Burman began the inning with a single up the middle and Derer pinch ran for Burman.  C Paul Franzoni singled to the pitcher, putting runners at first and second.  After a Villanova pitching change, Michael Anastasia put down a sacrifice bunt, moving over both Derer and Franzoni.  After a second pitching change in the inning, LF Evan Pietronico walked loading the bases and all three runners moved up on the wild pitch.

The Highlanders used four pitchers in the seven-inning contest – RHP starter Jared Kacso, RHP Johnny Malatesta, RHP John Saviano and LHP Brian Sondergard.  Kacso and Malatesta pitched two innings each, as Malatesta struck out three batters.  Saviano pitched the fifth, sixth and beginning of seventh, fanning two Wildcat batters. 

Sondergard closed out the game in the final 1.2 innings, evening his win-loss record on the season to 2-2, striking out one Wildcat.

3B David Marcano paced the Highlanders, going 2-for-4 while CF Jesse Uttendorfer and DH Alex Burman finished 1-for-3.  Freshmen C Paul Franzoni went 1-for-2.

Game One
NJIT 3, Villanova 2 (Final)

NJIT scored a pair of runs in the third inning, jumping ahead, 2-0, behind an RBI single by RF Michael Anastasia and RBI sacrifice fly to center field by LF Evan Pietronico.

Villanova drove in a single run in the bottom of the third and bottom of the eighth, knotting the game at 2-2.

Senior RHP Tommy Derer (1-0) registers his first win of the 2018 season, pitching the final two innings, allowing three hits, one run, one walk and one strikeout.

Classmate RHP Sean Lubreski started and had a no-decision in the game, pitching the first four innings, letting up two hits and one run.  NJIT's second pitcher, sophomore RHP Tyler Stafflinger pitched a scoreless, fifth, sixth and seventh inning for the Highlanders, allowing just one hit, while fanning four Wildcats.

Anastasia the lone Highlander to drive in a run in the 3-2 win, went 2-for-4, including a double while three different Highlanders—Pietronico, David Marcano and C Paul Franzoni.

NJIT will open ASUN Conference action with a three-game series at Lipscomb, beginning on March 29 at 6pm (CT) (7pm ET), March 30 at 6pm (CT) (7pm ET) and March 31 at 11am (CT) (12pm ET).