Box Score BAKERSFIELD, CA - California native Aidan Kidd struck out a career-high 11 hitters in his home state and Joe Georgini relieved him with four efficient as the NJIT baseball team took the series opener from host CSU Bakersfield 7-3 at Hardt Field on Friday night.

Friday's game was the first of four this weekend as the Highlanders and Roadrunners will meet for a doubleheader on Saturday before wrapping up the series on Saturday. 

Kidd's 11 strikeouts came in five innings of work. The senior threw four scoreless before the Roadrunners got on the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to go ahead 2-0. 

NJIT found its way on the scoreboard in the seventh with five runs to take its first lead of the game. Two reigning America East weekly award winners ignited the offense in the seventh as Player of the Week Luke Longo's RBI single made it 2-1 before Rookie of the Week Cade Ladehoff's two-run single put the Highlanders in front. NJIT scored two more in the inning on an Austin Francis RBI fielder's choice that turned into an error and plated a second run. 

Georgini kept the Roadrunners off the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh and NJIT made it 7-2 in the top of the eighth, scoring on a bases loaded walk from Francis and a wild pitch. 

CSU Bakersfield finally got a run off of Georgini in the ninth to make it 7-3, but was unable to get any closer as the Ty Sallie was able to corral a fly ball for the third out of the ninth inning to complete the victory, NJIT's second series-opening win of the season. 

Albert Choi was 4-for-5 at the plate for NJIT and also drew a walk. Kevin Putsky also had a multi-hit game for the Highlanders with two baseknocks. 

Game one of Saturday's doubleheader begins at 2pm (PT) back at Hardt Field.