NASHVILLE, TN—Sophomore Alex Burman drove in the game-winning run in the top of the 11^th and NJIT reliever Johnny Malatesta registered his first win of the season in the Highlanders 4-3 win at Lipscomb Thursday evening in ASUN Conference action at Duggan Field.

NJIT, who scored the first run of the game in the top of the first and added single runs in the sixth, seventh and eleventh, won its third straight game, improving to 11-8 on the season and 1-0 in the ASUN.

Lipscomb, who just recently defeated #8 Vanderbilt this week, falls to 11-14 on the season and 0-1 in the league.

With the scored tied at 3-3, heading into the top of the 11^th, NJIT rallied as CF Jesse Uttendorfer doubled down the left field line with one out. After a ground out to shortstop for the second out of the inning, PH Alex Burman drove in the game-winning RBI through the right side, scoring Uttendorfer, giving the Highlanders a 4-3 lead.

Malatesta, the Highlanders fourth pitcher of the game, registered his first win of the 2018, pitching two scoreless innings in the 10^th and 11^th inning. Malatesta is 1-0 with three saves in 10 appearances this season for the Highlanders. In 14.1 innings of action, the senior has fanned 15 batters.

NJIT starting pitcher Jared Kacso took a no-decision, pitching the first four innings, allowing three runs followed by seven scoreless innings by three Highlander pitchers – LHP Brian Sondergard (2.0IP, 1H), RHP Tommy Derer (3.0IP, 1H) and RHP Malatesta (2.0IP, 1H).

Uttendorfer finished the game 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run, including his fifth double of the season while SS Justin Etts and 1B Julio Marcano each went 2-for-4. Burman, who entered the game in the top of the ninth as a pinch hitter, went 1-for-2 with one RBI, the game-winning run for the Highlanders.

NJIT struck first in the top of the first, on an RBI sacrifice fly to right field by Jesse Uttendorfer, scoring Justin Etts, who singled to shortstop.

Lipscomb answered in the bottom half of the inning, knotting the game at 1-1, with an RBI single through the left side by Tevin Symonette, scoring Blake Thomas, who led off the inning with a single to left field.

The Bisons scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, taking a 3-1 lead, behind Symonette drove in a run on a fielding error by the Highlanders and a single through the right side by Josh Martinez.

In the sixth innings, Uttendorfer hit a sacrifice fly to right field and in the seventh RF Michael Anastasia hit an sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Tom Brady, to knot the game at 3-3.

Lipscomb's Symonetee drove in a pair of runs for the Bisons, finishing 1-for-5 while C Jeffrey Crisan went 3-for-4 with one run.

The Bisons third pitcher, Robbie Knox was credited with the loss, pitching three innings, allowing three hits and one run.

The two teams will return to action for a single game on Friday at 4pm (CT) | 5pm (ET) at Duggan Field. RHP Sean Lubreski is scheduled to start for the Highlanders.