UNION, NJ—NJIT scored five runs in the final two innings but Seton Hall held off the visiting, Highlanders and secured an 8-5 mid-week victory in non-conference baseball action Tuesday evening on the campus of Kean University Jim Hynes Baseball Stadium.

Seton Hall, winners of four straight, improve to 7-16 on the season while the Highlanders move to 8-10-1 overall.

The Pirates opened the scoring in the bottom of the second with four runs and added four more runs in the bottom of the fifth, taking a 8-0 lead.

NJIT added a single run in the top of the eighth with a two-out sacrifice fly by RF Matthew Cocciadiferro to left field.

The Highlanders rallied in the top of the ninth, adding four runs, sparked by a one-out double down the right field line by 2B Julio Marcano, fielding error by the Pirates and groundout by C Paul Franzoni for an 8-5 score.

Sophomore LHP Jake Rappaport (1-1) was credited with the loss, pitching 1.1 innings.  Freshman RHP Joe Georgini pitched 2.2 innings, holding the Pirates scoreless and allowing just one hit.

NJIT's fifth and sixth pitchers – Darwin Rodas (2.2 innings) and Grant Vurpillat (1.0 inning) did not allow a Pirate run or hit.

Julio Marcano went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs, including a double in the ninth while six different Highlanders registered a hit.  Franzoni and Cocciadiferro each drove in a run for NJIT.

Cocciadiferro drove in the first Highlander run of the game with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Julio Marcano, who led off the top of the eighth with a leadoff walk.

The Highlanders rallied in the top of the ninth, scoring four runs on two hits and one Pirate error. 

With runners on first and second, Julio Marcano hit a double down the left field line, scoring Andrew Elcock and Tom Brady.  NJIT's third run scored on a fielding error by Seton Hall and fourth run on a groundout to third by Franzoni.

NJIT will open up the season at home, welcoming ASUN Conference opponent Jacksonville for a three-game series, beginning on Friday March 29 at 2pm in Bridgewater, NJ at TD Bank Park at Somerset Patriots Stadium.  The two teams will play a single game on Saturday, starting at 2pm and conclude the series on Sunday at 1pm.