LITTLE FALLS, NJ - The NJIT baseball team returned to Yogi Berra Stadium on Tuesday and defended their new home for the eighth time in 11 chances this season as they rolled to an 8-4 victory against Saint Peter's.
NJIT never trailed in Tuesday's win, which snapped a three-game losing skid and gave NJIT the season sweep over Saint Peter's.
The difference in the game proved to be
Dillon Can's grand slam, which capped off a six-run bottom of the fifth and put the Highlanders ahead 8-1. Can, who entered the contest with six RBI this season, knocked in five runs on Tuesday.
Saint Peter's scored three times in the sixth to make the score 8-4, but
Colin Kidd made sure it stayed that way. Kidd, a freshman, tossed the best outing of his young career, closing the game with three scoreless innings, while allowing just one baserunner. He earned the first save of his career for his efforts.
The Highlanders go on the scoreboard first just two batters into the bottom of the first.
Cade Ladehoff hit a leadoff triple off the top of the centerfield wall and
Kevin Putsky scored him one batter later.
Saint Peter's tied the game with a solo home run in the fourth, but the Highlanders immediately went back in front, this time for good. Can put the Highlanders ahead with a sacrifice fly in the fourth that made the score 2-1.
NJIT added to the lead after
Andrew Eppinger sent the Peacocks down in order in the top of the fifth. Putsky led the home half of the fifth off with a walk and scored one batter later when
Ray Ortiz doubled him home.
Cole Campbell moved Ortiz over to third and Ortiz scored on a RBI single off the bat of
AJ Soldra.
Hayden Mileski was hit by a pitch and
Austin Francis drew a walk to load the bases for Can, who delivered with the biggest hit of the night, the afformentioned grand slam over the leftcenter field wall.
Drew Standen started on the mound for NJIT and tossed a pair of perfect innings before handing the ball to Eppinger. Eppinger went three innings allowing just one run, the solo shot in the fourth inning. Eppinger and Kidd each struck out a pair in their three-inning outings.
Soldra recorded three hits to improve his hitting streak to six games, while Ladehoff and Ortiz each tallied a pair of hits in the win.
The Highlanders will look to carry the momentum into the weekend when they welcome Bryant, the first place team in the America East, to Yogi Berra Stadium. First pitch in Friday's series opener is slated for 6pm.
