PRINCETON, NJ - Luke Longo had four hits for the second time this season and fourth time in his career, but Princeton came from behind and held off the NJIT baseball team, 8-6, in non-conference action on Wednesday afternoon at Clarke Field.
Longo wasted absolutely no time getting things started, crushing the first pitch of the game over the left field wall for his team-leading 11th home run of the season.
After Princeton tied things up 1-1 on a a solo shot in the second inning, NJIT jumped back in front thanks to
Gardner Lawrence's base running. Lawrence drew a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a fly ball, and scored on a wild pitch to go ahead 2-1 in the fourth.
The Highlanders added two more runs in the seventh without even getting a hit as
Ty Sallie and
CJ Wisniewski drew bases loaded walks to put NJIT head 4-1.
Princeton's offense finally got going in the home half of the seventh as the TIgers scored four runs to take their first lead of the game, 5-4. This lead was short-lived, however, as an eighth inning single off the bat of
Ray Ortiz scored Longo and tied things up.
The Tigers once again jumped back in front with three runs, two unearned, in the eighth to go ahead 8-5.
NJIT didn't go down without a fight as the Highlanders loaded the bases in the ninth inning and made the score 8-6 on a two-out single from
Andrew Elcock.
The Highlanders left the bases loaded to end the game with the tying run on second and winning run on first. NJIT left 15 runners on base over the course of the game as the Highlanders drew 11 walks and were hit by three pitches, but couldn't plate most of those runners.
Longo's four-hit game included three extra-base hits and he finished just a triple shy of the cycle.
Ty Sallie reached three times via walk and stole a pair of bases.
Brandon Peterson started on the mound for the Highlanders and was effective, allowing just one run in three innings of work.
Grant Vurpillat pitched a scoreless fourth to continue his impressive season on the mound and
Croix Jenkins was effective for the second-straight appearance, tossing an inning without allowing a run.
The Highlanders will look to get back in the win column on Friday when they welcome Bryant to Union, NJ, for a three-game series. Check back on Thursday for a schedule update ahead of this weekend's series.
