KENNESAW GA—Kennesaw State jumped out to a 4-0 lead but the visiting Highlanders scored eight runs from the fourth through sixth inning to take control and go on to win 12-5 in game one of the three game series against the Owls in ASUN Conference action at Stillwell Stadium.
NJIT moves to 19-21 overall, 6-10 in the ASUN Conference while Kennesaw State, which sits in second place in the ASUN standings, moves to 24-23 overall, 10-6 in the ASUN.
Highlander senior LHP
Brian Sondergard, the Highlanders second pitcher, picked up the win, moving to 4-2 on the season, pitching 2.2 innings, allowing two runs. NJIT relief pitchers
Tommy Derer and
Johnny Malatesta held the Owls scoreless in the eighth and ninth inning to secure the 12-5 victory.
Pat O'Hare recorded a 3-for-3 night, which included five RBI while Cocciadiferrro drove in three runs, going 2-for-5, including his second home run of the season.
Tom Brady went 3-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored for the Highalnders.
Kennesaw State's RF Terrence Norman went a perfect 4-for-4 while DH Jaylen Smith drove in three runs after a 1-for-4 performance.
Owl's starter AJ Moore recorded his first loss of the season, dropping to 5-1 on the season, pitching 5.0 innings allowing four hit and five runs.
Kennesaw State scored four runs in the top of the first, taking an early lead over the Highlanders.
Neither team struck again until the fourth when NJIT got two runs on the board, after a double by 2B
Tom Brady. The Highlanders kept that momentum for the next two innings scoring three runs in the fifth and sixth to go up 8-4 on the Owls.
RF
Matthew Cocciadiferro blasted a three-run homer in the top of the fifth while 3B
Pat O'Hare drove in a pair of runs with a two-out to single to right field, pushing the Highlander lead to 8-4.
Senior LF
Jesse Uttendorfer finished 1-for-5 with one RBI and two runs. Uttendorfer has combined for 221 career hits, which is one hit away from tying the all-time record.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Owls threatened with two runners on, but couldn't get a run across as NJIT got out of the jam to preserve their four-run lead.
The visitors added four runs in the top of the ninth on a solo home run by C
Paul Franzoni and a double to left field by O'Hare driving in three runs for a 12-4 advantage.
The home team added a single run in the bottom of the ninth but reliever
Johnny Malatesta closed out the game with a strikeout.
The two teams will return to action on Saturday at 2pm.
