KENNESAW GA—Senior Jesse Uttendorfer became NJIT's all-time hit leader, Tommy Derer registered his fourth win of the season and Johnny Malatesta tabbed his fifth save of the season in NJIT's 3-2 win over Kennesaw State Sunday afternoon in ASUN Conference action at Stillwell Stadium.

With the win, the Highlanders earn its first ASUN Conference series over the Owls, improving to 7-11 in the ASUN, 20-22 overall while Kennesaw State drops to 11-7 in the ASUN and 25-24 overall.  The 20 wins are the most since 2015 when NJIT finished with 24.

NJIT, still in the hunt for ASUN Conference postseason, will conclude the regular season next week hosting North Florida on Thursday and Friday at 6pm and Sunday at 12pm.

Derer, the Highlanders second pitcher in the game, registers his fourth win of the season, improving to 4-1, pitching 3.0 innings, letting up three hits and allowing just one run.  Malatesta recorded his team-leading fifth save of the season, shutting down the Owls in the eighth and ninth.

Uttendorfer went 1-for-2 with one RBI and became NJIT's all-time hit leader with 223 career hits while CF Michael Anastasia finished 1-for-4 with one RBI.

Junior SS Justin Etts, DH Evan Pietronico, 3B David Marcano and C Paul Franzoni each recorded a hit in the win.

Kennesaw State's Jake Rothwell started and took the loss, pitching 6.1 innings, letting up four hits, three (all earned) while striking out seven Highlander batters.

Owls LF Garrett Hodges finished 2-for-3 while DH Jaylen Smith went 2-for-4 with one run.  RF Terence Norman and CF LaDonis Bryant each drove in a run for Kennesaw State.

Kennesaw State got the scoring started in the bottom of the second with two outs on a ground out to second by LaDonis Bryant for a 1-0 lead.

NJIT knotted the score at 1-1 in the top of the fourth on a double steal by Evan Pietronico and Jesse Uttendorder.

The visitors went ahead, 2-1, on an RBI double to right field by Michael Anastasia, scoring Uttendorfer.

Kennsaw State tied up the game, 2-2, in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single to right field by Terence Norman.

NJIT went ahead 3-2 in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Uttendorfer, scoring Tom Brady.