LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ - The NJIT baseball team defeated host Rider 4-3 in a non-conference matchup between New Jersey's two 2021 NCAA Regional qualifiers on Tuesday afternoon at Sonny Pittaro Field.

Both NJIT (14-13) and Rider (17-13) were only able to record six hits each, but the Highlanders made the most of their baserunners and got quality pitching from three different arms en route to the one-run victory. 

NJIT opened the scoring just three batters into the game when Isiah Daubon singled home Julio Marcano, who reached one batter earlier via a double. 

The Highlanders doubled their lead in the second when Nick Hussey singled and came around to score on a wild pitch and made it 3-0 an inning later as Albert Choi scored on a wild pitch. The lead become 4-0 later in the top of the third when Paul Franzoni and Daubon executed a double steal that scored Daubon. 

Rider got within two in the home half of the third inning and made it a one-run game with an unearned run in the seventh, but they were unable to tie it thanks to quality pitching from the trio of Tyler Cirone, Grant Vurpillat, and Aaron Park.

Cirone started and went 2.1 innings before handing the ball to Vurpillat, who tossed 3.2 scoreless innings to earn the win. Park entered in the seventh and didn't allow an earned run en route to his second save of the season. 

Hussey and Marcano each had two hits for the Highlanders in the victory. NJIT stole five bases on Tuesday, with Franzoni snagging a pair. The veteran catcher also threw out a pair of Broncs on the bases.

The Highlanders will welcome UMBC to New Jersey this weekend for a three-game America East Conference series at Jim Hynes Stadium in Ewing. First pitch of Friday's game one is slated for 6pm.