NEWARK, NJ - The NJIT baseball team scored the most runs in the program's Division I era on Wednesday, dominating their way to a 27-14 victory over Saint Peter's in non-conference action at Yogi Berra Stadium.
The Highlanders are now 5-1 at Yogi Berra Stadium this season, the first in their new home ballpark.
All nine NJIT hitters in the starting lineup recorded at least one hit, with
Luke Longo and
Cole Campbell each tallying three hits. Longo knocked in a career-best seven runs, while Campbell finished 3-for-4 with a pair of walks, three runs scored and two RBI.
Ray Ortiz and
Kevin Putsky each scored five times in the win.
Ty Sallie reached base five times, four via a walk and knocked in three runs including two on a single in the first inning.
Saint Peter's scored the first two runs of the game, but NJIT quickly answered with five runs in the home half of the third.
The Highlanders appeared to break the game open with a six-run third inning to go ahead 15-3, but the Peacocks scored seven times in the fourth to make it 15-10.
NJIT did in fact break the game open with a six-run seventh inning and led 26-14 through seven frames.
The Highlanders hit three home runs as veterans Ortiz, Pusky, and Longo each hit longballs. Longo's home run was his seventh of the season, one behind team leader
Cade Ladehoff, and 34th of his career, extending the program record. Ortiz hit his sixth round tripper of the year, while Putsky crushed his fifth.
Longo also cleared the bases with a double to add to his big day at the plate.
Liam Reiner was the pitcher of record for NJIT as he allowed just one run in 1.1 innings of work to end the Peacocks mid-game rally.
The Highlanders will look to keep the bats hot when they open up a three-game America East Conference series on Friday vs. UMBC. First pitch is slated for 6pm back at Yogi Berra Stadium.
