UNION, NJ - The NJIT baseball team split a doubleheader with Binghamton on Saturday in America East action at Jim Hynes Stadium. Binghamton took the first game 4-2, before NJIT bounced back to win the second game 2-0.
Saturday's split means NJIT (18-22, 17-17 AE) and Binghamton (15-15, 15-15 AE) remain tied for a spot in the upcoming America East Playoffs.Â
Game One Recap
NJITÂ plated the game's first run in the bottom of the first when
Julio Marcano doubled and came around to score on an RBI single from
David Marcano.
The game remained 1-0 until the fourth inning as Binghamton tied the game on an RBI double off the bat of Shane Marshall. The Bearcats took the lead in the seventh courtesy of an RBI single from Alex Beratta.
NJIT didn't go away and was able to tie the game in what was supposed to be its final at bat when
Paul Franzoni drew a bases loaded walk as the Highlanders were down to their last out.
Binghamton answered immediately, scoring two runs on a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth and held on for the 4-2 victory.
Tyler Stafflinger started on the mound for the Highlanders and allowed just two runs in 6.2 innings while striking out six.Â
Albert Choi and
Cole Fleming each paced the NJIT offense with two hits apiece.Â
Game Two Recap
Sophomore
Ryan Fischer was NJIT's starting pitcher in game two and the right-hander helped lead the Highlanders to a crucial victory.
Fischer threw seven shutout innings before letting the Highlanders' bullpen come in for the final six outs. Freshman
Croix Jenkins pitched a scoreless eighth, before senior
Jake Rappaport tossed a perfect ninth inning to earn his program-record eighth save of the season.Â
NJIT's offense was able to get a pair of timely hits in the third and fourth innings, respectively, to give Fischer all the run support he would need. Choi doubled home
Kevin Blum in the third inning to break the scoreless tie and
Luke Longo doubled NJIT's lead to 2-0 an inning later scoring
Daniel Helfgott with a double.Â
Julio Marcano was 2-for-4 in the win and is now hitting a team-best .353 this season. Choi's RBI double extended his hitting streak to 11 and his reached base streak to 25.
The NJIT defense didn't make an error in either game on Saturday.
On Deck
NJIT and Binghamton will wrap up their four-game series on Sunday back in Union. First pitch of game one is slated for 1pm and both games will be streamed via AmericaEast.TV.
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