SOUTH ORANGE, NJ—NJIT junior Michael Anastasia drove in four runs in the Highlanders' 10-4 in-state win at Seton Hall Tuesday afternoon at Owen T. Carroll Field in non-conference baseball action.

With the win, NJIT moves above .500, standing at 17-16 overall, matching the Highlanders' wins output in 2016.  Seton Hall, which snaps a three-game skid, drops to 17-15-1 on the season.

Anastasia, the Highlanders center fielder finished 1-for-4 with four RBI and one run.  The junior got the visitors on the board in the top of the second with a three-run homer to right field and drove in his fourth RBI in the top of the third with a groundout to shortstop.

Highlander starter LHP Brian Sondergard was credited with a no-decision, pitching 3.0 innings, allowing three hits and two runs.  NJIT's third pitcher on the day, senior Tommy Derer picked up the win, moving to 3-0 on the season, pitching 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and fanning two Pirate batters.  In the last three outings, Derer has pitched seven consecutive scoreless innings.

NJIT opened the scoring in the top of the second with four runs, behind a three-run blast by Anastasia and RBI single through the left side by SS Justin Etts.

The home team plated two runs in the bottom of the second on an RBI triple by RF Ryan Ramirez and later scored on a passed ball.

NJIT added single runs in the top of the third and fourth, behind an RBI groundout by Anastasia and double down the right field line by Uttendorfer, as the Highlanders led 6-2.

Seton Hall's C Chris Villa led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run to right field, cutting the deficit to 6-3.

NJIT added three runs in the sixth and one in the seventh, extending its lead to 10-3. 

In the bottom six, Julio Marcano drove in a pair of runs with a double to left field and Uttendorfer hit an RBI single to second base.  Pietronico drove in the lone run in the top of the seventh on an RBI single through the right side.

The Pirates added a run in the bottom of the ninth as RHP Johnny Malatesta closed out the game with a fly out to right field.

In addition to Anastasia, senior LF Jesse Uttendorfer went 3-for-5, driving in a pair of runs while 1B Julio Marcano finished 1-for-5 driving in and scoring two runs for the Highlanders.

NJIT leadoff batter SS Justin Etts combined for a 3-for-4 performance with one RBI and two runs, including a double while DH Evan Pietronico went 2-for-5 with one RBI and one run scored.  Pietronico's 46 career doubles is one shy the NJIT Division I career record held by Mike Rampone.

The Highlanders will return to ASUN Conference action this weekend, visiting No. 25 Jacksonville (28-13, 6-3 ASUN) in a three-game series.  The teams are scheduled for three nine-inning single contests, beginning on Friday at 7pm, Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 1pm.