SMITHFIELD, RI - The NJIT baseball team was defeated 15-3 in the final contest of a three-game America East series against Bryant on Sunday at Conaty Park.

Bryant scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back, adding more scoring in each of the next four innings en route to the double-digit victory.

NJIT got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning when Kevin Putsky grounded out to second base and scored Ty Sallie.

The Highlanders added another run in the eighth inning on an RBI single from Nick Vega that scored Austin Francis, who reached base earlier in the inning with his first career triple.

NJIT's final run came in the ninth inning via a solo home run off the bat of Gardner Lawrence. The home run was Lawrence's first-career hit and the sophomore is the 10th different Highlander to hit a longball this season.

Talon Mihalinac made his collegiate debut on the mound and pitched a scoreless eighth inning, striking out a pair.

NJIT will return to the diamond on Wednesday when it makes the short trek to Rutgers for a mid-week contest. First pitch is slated for 3pm at Baiton Field in Piscataway.