VIDEO: NJIT Highlights

LOWELL, MA - The NJIT baseball team was on base all afternoon as it defeated host UMass Lowell 10-4 in America East Conference action on Friday at LaLacheur Park.

NJIT had 12 hits and drew 11 walks en route to its 20th victory of the season. The Highlanders have now won 20 games for the fifth-straight season.

The Highlanders were getting on base early, but were unable to score until the sixth inning when they turned a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 lead. Freshman AJ Soldra got NJIT on the scoreboard with a two-run single. Robbie McClellan then went to his bench, calling on redshirt freshman Cole Campbell to pinch hit and Cambell delivered with a two-run double to make the score 4-1.
 

T6 | NJIT 4, UML 1

The Highlanders add to their lead as Robbie McClellan goes to the bench and pinch hitter Cole Campbell delivers with a two-RBI double to right field! pic.twitter.com/OuUqsHWdP8

— NJIT BASEBALL (@NJTechBaseball) May 10, 2024

NJIT starting pitcher Aidan Kidd shut down the River Hawks in the home half of the sixth, tossing his fifth scoreless frame in six innings. Kevin Putsky's team-leading 11th home run of the season made it 5-1 in the seventh and a bases loaded walk from Ty Sallie made the score 6-1 through six and a half innings.

Joe Georgini took over for Kidd in the seventh and pitched a scoreless frame.

UMass Lowell pieced together a rally in the eighth to make the score 6-4, but the Highlanders were able to add to their lead with four more runs in the ninth to go ahead by six. The ninth inning offense was highlighted by an RBI double from Cole Fleming to make the score 7-4, before Cade Ladehoff's 48th RBI of the season scored Sallie and made it 8-4 one batter later. An RBI groundout from Choi made it 9-4 and Ladehoff closed out the scoring, reaching home on a wild pitch.

Georgini pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth to complete the three-inning save, his second save of the season. 

Kidd struck out seven and walked just one over six innings of work for his best start since a 12-strikeout performance against UMass Lowell back in March.

Five different Highlanders - Ladehoff, Putsky, Ray Ortiz, Soldra, and Fleming each had two hits in the win. Sallie walked three times, while Luke Longo and Choi each drew a pair of walks. Nine different Highlanders scored at least one run, with Choi coming around to score twice. 

NJIT will look to clinch the series on Saturday when the teams meet back at LaLacheur Park at 1pm.