HAMDEN, CT - The NJIT baseball team took an early lead on Friday and stayed in front for most of the game before a late rally from host Quinnipiac gave the Bobcats a 12-7 victory in the first of three games between the teams this weekend.

Friday's game took place at QU's Baseball Stadium, while Saturday's contest will be hosted by NJIT at Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls, NJ. The teams will wrap up the series on Sunday back in Hamden. 

The Highlanders went ahead early thanks to first inning RBIs from Cade Ladehoff and Cole Campbell. NJIT made the score 3-0 an inning later when Ty Sallie scored on a balk. 

NJIT's all-time home run leader, Luke Longo, crushed his sixth home run of the season an 33rd of his career to make the lead 5-0 in the third.

QU broke through with a run in the home half of the third, but the Highlanders got the run back in the fifth when Ladehoff hit his team-high eighth longball of the season. 

The Bobcats scored a run in each of the fifth and sixth innings to make it 6-3 before a five-run seventh gave them their first lead of the game. QU added four runs in the eighth to go ahead 12-6.

Ladehoff singled in the ninth to score Albert Choi and make the final score 12-7. The hit was hit third of the day, as was the RBI. 

Three other Highlanders - Kevin Putsky, Choi, and Cole Campbell, had two-hit games for NJIT. 

Ladehoff now has 31 RBIs on the season, which is tied for the second most in the America East. The freshman's eight home runs rank fourth.

Holden de Jong put together arguably the best start of his young career as the sophomore struck out a career-high seven, while walking just one in five innings of work. de Jong allowed two runs (one earned) on the afternoon.

NJIT will look to tie the series tomorrow when the teams meet at Yogi Berra Stadium. First pitch is slated for 6pm in Little Falls, NJ.