SOUTH ORANGE, NJ - The NJIT baseball team made the short trip to Seton Hall on Tuesday and defeated the Pirates 8-3 thanks to a five-RBI game from Paul Franzoni and 8.1 combined shutout innings from Jake Rappaport, Croix Jenkins, and Aaron Park.

Tuesday's victory was NJIT's second over a BIG EAST team this season as the Highlanders (7-9) also took down Villanova earlier this month. The win was just the second time the Highlanders have ever beaten Seton Hall in 12 chances.

Albert Choi got the scoring going with a solo home run in the top of the first and the Highlanders made the lead 2-0 in the fourth inning when Andrew Elcock singled home Julio Marcano. 

Seton Hall scored three times in the home half of the fourth, but that lead was short-lived as NJIT got back in front in the fifth, thanks to a sacrifice fly from Choi and a two-run single off the bat of Franzoni. 

Franzoni added to the lead in the seventh, crushing his second home run of the season over the left field wall to score three runs and give the Highlanders an 8-3 lead.

Rappaport, who has served as the NJIT closer for the last year plus, started on the mound and threw two shutout innings. Jenkins earned the win, his second of the season, tossing 4.1 shutout innings in relief. Aaron Park pitched the ninth and didn't allow a run either.

Franzoni paced the Highlanders offense with two hits, while David Marcano and Elcock each recorded one hit to extend their hitting streaks to eight and six, respectively. Jared Donnelly also had a hit and now has hit safely in five straight games.

The Highlanders return to the diamond on Friday when they travel to Albany for the first contest of a three-game America East Conference series. First pitch of game one is slated for 3pm on Friday. Read Full Article