LOWELL, MA -  The NJIT baseball team dropped a slugfest to host UMass Lowell on Sunday, falling 17-8 despite getting 15 hits in America East Conference action at LaLecheur Park.

The Highlanders scored three in the third and four in the fourth to go ahead 7-2, but were unable to hold onto the lead as the Riverhawks scored 15 runs in the fifth-eighth innings to come from behind and complete the three-game sweep.

UML's Robert Gallagher hit a home run in the first inning to put his team on top, but the Highlanders tied the game in the third when Ray Ortiz drew a bases loaded walk and took the lead on another walk from Andrew Elcock. NJIT made it 3-1 when Kevin Putsky singled home Luke Longo a batter later.

After the Riverhawks got a run back in the home half of the third, the Highlanders scored four more times in the fourth to go ahead 7-2. It was once again the middle of the order that provided the damage for NJIT as it got RBIs from Ortiz, Putsky (2), and Michael Doyle.

It was all UMass Lowell from there, however, as the hosts scored five in the fifth to tie the game and went ahead for good with a pair of runs in the sixth. UML added four runs in the seventh and four more in the eighth to put the game away.

Ortiz, Putsky, and Cole Fleming each had three hits to pace the Highlanders offense, while Doyle and Nick Vega finished with two. 

The Highlanders will return to the diamond on Tuesday when they host Saint Peter's in the first of four home games this week. First pitch is slated for 6pm at Jim Hynes Stadium.