HOLLY SPRINGS, NC - The NJIT baseball team battled from behind to tie Saturday's game against Purdue twice, but the Boilermakers ultimately pulled away and won the contest 7-4 at Ting Stadium.

The game was the third of a four-game series between NJIT (3-3) and Purdue (5-2) this weekend in Holly Springs. The Boilermakers lead the series 2-1 heading into Sunday's finale back at Ting Stadium. 

Freshman Brandon Peterson started on the mound for the Highlanders and allowed just one unearned run in three innings of work.

The unearned run put Purdue ahead 1-0 in the second inning, but NJIT answered to tie the game in the top of the fourth when Jared Donnelly doubled home Kevin Putsky.

After Purdue went ahead 3-1 with a pair of runs in the fifth, the Highlanders once again answered to tie the game. Ray Ortiz hit a home run in the second-straight game to make it 3-2 and then NJIT took advantage of a Boilermakers' error to make the score 3-3. 

Purdue answered immediately with a run in the home half of the sixth inning and broke the game open with a two-out, bases clearing double an inning later.

NJIT didn't go down with out a fight, however, as it loaded the bases in the ninth and sent the tying run to the plate. Albert Choi lined out to second and Andrew Elcock scored on the play thanks to a Boilermaker error. Elcock's run was the final run of the game as Purdue was able to get the final out to go ahead 2-1 in the series. 

Choi continued his big weekend at the plate, hitting a triple and walking twice. Putsky was 2-for-4 and came around two score a pair of runs, as well. 

The Highlanders and Boilermakers are set to wrap up their series on Sunday at 1pm back at Ting Field in Holly Springs.