NORFOLK, VA - The NJIT baseball team scored three runs in the ninth inning on Friday, but it ultimately wasn't enough as the Highlanders fell 4-3 to host Norfolk State in the series opener on Friday at Marty L. Miller Field.

Friday's game was the first of three this weekend between NJIT (2-6) and Norfolk St. (2-5), a pair of teams that qualified for an NCAA Regional last season.

Pitching was the story for the first seven plus innings in this one as NJIT's Ryan Fischer and NSU's Nolan Manzer shined for their respective teams.

Fischer tossed seven innings, allowing just one run while striking out nine, two less than his career-high. Manzer went six scoreless innings, striking out eight in the process.

The Spartans led 1-0 heading into the bottom of the eighth when they got a three-run home run from Tommy Woods to go ahead 4-0.

NJIT didn't go down without a fight, however, plating three runs in the ninth, but NSU's Zac Capps was able to get a fly out with the bases loaded and two outs to hold on to the victory.

While Fischer was the story on the mound, Paul Franzoni paced the Highlanders' offense, going 2-for-2 with a walk and three stolen bases. Andrew Elcock, Julio Marcano, and David Marcano each had an RBI during the ninth-inning rally.

The Highlanders will look to even the series on Saturday when the teams meet again at Marty L. Miller Field. First pitch is slated for 1pm.