ORONO, ME–Maine won game one, 8-0, before NJIT took the nightcap, 6-5, to split Sunday's America East Conference baseball doubleheader at Mahaney Diamond.
NJIT moves to 11-17 overall, 4-4 in the America East while Maine moves to 7-19 overall, 3-5 in the America East.
In game two, sophomore Cole Campbell knocked in a pair of Highlander runs to give NJIT a 6-5 lead and Joe Georgini picked up his third win of the season, pitching two scoreless innings to secure the 6-5 road win for the Highlanders.
Game Two | NJIT 6, Maine 5
NJIT struck first in game two, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first on a pair of singles through the left side by Cade Ladehoff and Cole Campbell for a 2-0 lead.
Maine scored its first run in the bottom of the first on a homer to center field by Jeremiah Jenkins for a 2-1 score.
The Black Bears went ahead in the bottom of the second, 5-2, behind four runs, four hits and one Highlander error.
NJIT answered in the top of the fourth, thanks to a two-run home run by Albert Choi to pull the Highlanders within one, 5-4.
A pair of defensive plays were made at the plate in the sixth inning by both teams as Maine held a one-run lead, 5-4, heading into the seventh inning.
With the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, NJIT took a 6-5 lead on a single up the middle by Campbell driving in two runs.
Georgini closed the door in the ninth, going 1-2-3 to record the doubleheader split at Maine.
Liam Reiner, NJIT's second pitcher, pitched three scoreless innings, allowing three hits while Georgini pitched the final two innings for the Highlanders, moving to 3-2 overall.
Campbell went 2-for-5, recording three RBI, including two in the top of the ninth to give NJIT the lead. Choi finished 2-for-4 with three runs and two RBI. Kevin Putsky and Cade Ladehoff each combined for two hits.
Game One | Maine 8, NJIT 0 (7)
Maine plated a single run in the bottom of the second to strike first, added another run in the bottom of the fourth and opened up the game in the bottom of the fifth, tacking on six runs to extend its lead to 8-0.
Austin Francis was the lone Highlander who registered a hit in the game.
Aidan Kidd was tagged with the loss, pitching 4.2 innings, allowing eight runs, seven hits and striking out seven Black Bears. Relief pitcher Talon Mihalinac pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, striking out one Maine batter.
NJIT will return to action next week, Wednesday, April 10 at 6pm when the Highlanders host Rider at Yogi Berra Stadium.
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