UNION, NJ—NJIT clinched a spot in the 2018 ASUN Conference Tournament with a doubleheader sweep, 3-1 and 7-1, over visiting North Florida Thursday afternoon in ASUN Conference action at Jim Hynes '63 Stadium on the campus of Kean University.
With Thursday's sweep over the Ospreys, NJIT will make the programs first ASUN Conference postseason appearance since joining the league in 2015-16.
NJIT evens its overall record to 22-22 and moves into fourth place in the ASUN standings with a record of 9-11. North Florida drops to 25-26 overall, 9-11 in the league.
NJIT took the opening game of the series, 3-1, behind two RBI from senior
Jesse Uttendorfer and a strong pitching performance from
Jared Kacso who registered his third win of the season. Relief pitcher
Johnny Malatesta picked up his team-leading sixth save.
The Highlanders won 7-1 in the nightcap to complete the doubleheader sweep over North Florida, behind seven innings from RHP
Sean Lubreski, who allowed just one Osprey run and two RBI by freshman
Paul Franzoni led the Highlander offense.
Uttendorfer combined for 5-for-8 with three RBI and one run in the doubleheader.
Game Two | NJIT 7, UNF 1 (Final)
NJIT starting pitcher
Sean Lubreski improved to 4-5 on the season, pitching 7.0 strong innings, allowing just one Osprey run and striking out four batters. Senior LHP reliever
Brian Sondergard pitched two scoreless innings to close out the game for the Highlanders.
North Florida's Austin Drury took the loss, pitching 2.2 innings, allowing five hits, four runs (all earned) and two walks.
Franzoni drove in a pair of runs for the Highlanders, finishing 1-for-4 while Uttendorfer went 3-for-4 with one RBI. Freshman 3B
David Marcano went 2-for-5 with one run.
Osprey's LF Mac Wilson went 3-for-4 and 1B Blake Voyles drove in the lone run for the visitors, finishing 2-for-4 in the loss.
NJIT went ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the second with a bases loaded single to right center Franzoni, driving in
Evan Pietronico and
David Marcano. Pietronico led off the inning with a walk followed by a single to center by
David Marcano.
The Highlanders added two runs in the bottom of the third on an Osprey wild pitch and RBI single to left field by Pietronico. Uttendorfer and
Julio Marcano each singled in the inning.
North Florida plated a single run in the top of the sixth on an RBI by Blake Voyles, scoring Board, who led off the inning with a walk.
NJIT scored a run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single to center by Uttendorfer, scoring Etts, who singled to second, to extend the Highlander lead to, 5-1.
The home team pushed across single runs in the bottom of the seventh and eighth to lengthen the Highlander lead to 7-1.
Game One | NJIT 3, UNF 1 (Final)
NJIT starting pitcher RHP
Jared Kacso pitched six strong innings, allowing seven hits and one Osprey run, improving to 3-6 on the season. Relief pitcher
Johnny Malatesta registered his team-leading sixth save.
Uttendorfer paced the Highlanders, going 2-for-4 with two RBI while SS
Justin Etts finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run. 1B
Julio Marcano went 2-for-4, including his 13
th double of the season and CF
Michael Anastasia finished 2-for-3 with one RBI.
North Florida ace Frank German pitched the first three innings, allowing seven hits, three runs (all earned) while fanning six Highlander batters.
The Ospreys RF Dalton Board went 1-for-4 with one RBI while 1B Blake Voyles finished 3-for-4.
NJIT jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a two-out infield single deep to third base by Etts, scoring
Matthew Cocciadiferro, who led off the inning with a single through the right side. With runners on the corners, Uttendorfer drove in a pair of runs with a double to right field to end the inning.
North Florida plated a single run in the top of the third on an RBI single to center field by Dalton Board for a 3-1 score.
The two teams will wrap up the three-game series on Friday at 2pm on the campus of Kean University in Union, NJ.
