LOWELL, MA - The NJIT baseball team was defeated 8-1 by host UMass Lowell in America East Conference action on Saturday afternoon at LaLacheur Park. 

The River Hawks win evens the series after the Highlanders won 10-4 on Friday.

NJIT got on the scoreboard first in the top half of the first inning when Albert Choi doubled home Cade Ladehoff, who led off the game with a double of his own.

Holden de Jong was perfect through two innings, but UML was able to get on the scoreboard with a big third inning. The River Hawks scored six unearned runs in the third to go ahead 6-1.

UML added a pair of runs an inning later to make the score 8-1. 

Both teams were held off the scoreboard from there as NJIT's bullpen combined for 4.1 shutout innings. Aaron Park struck out four over 2.1 innings of work and Jake Fullerton tossed two scoreless innings of his own.

Offensively, the Highlanders were led by Ladehoff and Choi, who each recorded a pair of hits and drew a walk.

The teams will return to the diamond on Sunday for the series rubber match at 12pm.