VIDEO: Postgame Interview w/ Jared Donnelly
UNION, NJ - Jared Donnelly and the NJIT baseball team closed this weekend's three-game America East series vs. UAlbany just as they started it, with a walk-off victory over the Great Danes at Jim Hynes Stadium.
Two days after leading NJIT to a 4-3 series-opening win with a walk-off double, Donnelly broke a 6-6 tie with a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to give the Highlanders a 7-6 victory and complete the series sweep. NJIT also defeated the Great Danes 4-1 in the second game of the series.
The Highlanders fell behind 1-0 early when UAlbany scored a run in the second, but NJIT answered with a pair of runs in the third to take the lead.
Andrew Elcock tripled home Donnelly, before scoring on an RBI double from
Ty Sallie.
UAlbany jumped back in front in the sixth courtesy of a two-run home run off the bat of Will Binder, but that lead was once again short-lived as NJIT scored four times in the home half of the seventh inning to go ahead 6-3
NJIT tied the game on an RBI single from Donnelly and went in front 5-3 on the biggest hit of
Ty Sallie's young career, a two-run double to right centerfield. The Highlanders added another run when
Luke Longo hit a sacrifice fly to score Elcock.
The Great Danes plated three runs in the eighth to tie the game and were threatening to take the lead when Head Coach
Robbie McClellan made a pitching change and brought in freshman Holden de Jong. De Jong came into the game with runners at the corners and one out, but was able to keep the game tied thanks to a pair of pop outs.
After NJIT went down in order in the eighth, de Jong continued his tremendous performance, allowing just one baserunner in the ninth via a two-out hit by pitch.
This all set the stage for Donmelly, a graduate student and team captain, who took confidently stepped up to the plate with a full count and drove a fast ball over the right-centerfield wall to cap off a great weekend for the Highlanders.
"𝑳𝒆𝒕'𝒔 𝑮𝒐 𝑯𝒐𝒎𝒆!" - Jared Donnelly
For the second time this weekend, @Donn24Jared walks off the Great Danes, this time with a 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓™️ to complete the three-game sweep! pic.twitter.com/bMV6a9SUul
— NJIT BASEBALL (@NJTechBaseball)
April 2, 2023
Donnelly finished the game 2-for-3 with a walk, three runs scored and a pair of RBIs. Sallie, who entered the game with just two career RBIs, knocked in three runs, while going 2-for-4 at the plate.
NJIT also benefited from a pair of terrific defensive play in Sunday's win. The first ended the top of the second inning as
Kevin Putsky threw out a runner at home plate from right field, and the second came from Donnelly, who barehanded a slow roller from his third base position and narrowly threw out the runner at first base.
The Highlanders will look to make it four in a row on Wednesday when they hit the road for a mid-week game at Monmouth. First pitch is slated for 3pm in West Long Branch, NJ.
