ALBANY, NY - The NJIT baseball team fell into an early hole on Friday, but rallied for an 11-6 victory over host UAlbany at Varsity Field.
NJIT trailed 5-0 after one inning, but chipped away and ultimately tied the game in the fifth and broke it open with a five-run eighth inning to clinch the series victory over the Great Danes. Friday's win was the Highlanders' ninth-straight against UAlbany dating back to the 2021 America East Playoffs.Â
With the Great Danes leading 5-0, NJIT got on the board in the third inning when
Kevin Putsky singled home
Luke Longo. The Highlanders made it 5-3 an inning later thanks to back-to-back solo home runs from
Jared Donnelly and Longo. Donnelly's blast was his fifth of the season, while Longo extended the program record with his 16th longball of the year.
A sacrifice fly from
Nick Vega made the score 5-4 in the fifth before a two-out, two-run double off the bat of Donnelly put NJIT in front 6-5.
UAlbany tied the game in the home half of the fifth and the score remained 6-6 until the Highlanders blew it open with a five-run eighth inning. A two-run single from Putsky made it 8-6 and two batters later
Michael Doyle scored
Ray Ortiz to make it 9-6. Putsky came around to score on a fielder's choice before
Andrew Elcock stole home on a double steal to make it 11-6.
Brandon Peterson was able to get the final six outs in a pair of scoreless innings on the mound. Peterson was one of four pitchers out of the NJIT bullpen to combine to throw 8.1 innings and allow just one run.
Aaron Park entered the game in the first inning and tossed 3.1 scoreless before handing the ball to
Holden de Jong, who allowed one run in an inning of work.
Liam Reiner pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh inning and handed the ball to Peterson for the final two innings.Â
Ray Ortiz paced the NJIT offense with three hits, while Longo, Putsky, Doyle, and Donnelly each recorded a pair of hits.Â
The Highlanders and Great Danes will wrap up their series on Saturday. First pitch is slated for 11am back at Varsity Field.
