SMITHFIELD, RI - The NJIT baseball team dropped both contests of an America East doubleheader against host Bryant on Friday at Conaty Field, falling 5-2 in the opener and 7-3 in game two. 

Game One Recap
Bryant jumped in front with a run in the second inning and added two more in the third to go ahead 3-0.

The Highlanders made it a one-run game in the fourth when Brett Helmkamp drew a bases loaded walk and Andrew Elcock scored Austin Francis on a single.

Bryant immediately answered, however, scoring two runs in the home half of the fourth to make the score 5-2, which is how the seven-inning game ended.

Ryan Fischer pitched all six innings for the Highlanders and struck out three. Six different NJIT players finished with one hit, including Helmkamp and Ty Sallie, who each also reached base via walks.

Game Two Recap
Bryant jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first, but the Highlanders answered with a two-run second inning to tie the game 2-2 with Sallie and Helmkamp each recording RBIs.

Sallie led off the fifth with a single and stole second before coming around to score on an RBI single from Ray Ortiz which put NJIT in front 3-2.

The Bulldogs tied the game in the home half of the fifth and broke it open with four runs in the sixth to take the game 7-3 and complete the sweep.

NJIT out-hit Bryant 9-7 with Kevin Putsky, Cole Fleming, and Sallie each recording a pair of hits. 

Liam Reiner tossed a pair of shutout innings out of the Highlanders bullpen.

Up Next
NJIT and Bryant will conclude the three-game series on Sunday back at Conaty Field. First pitch is slated for 1pm.