VIDEO: NJIT Highlights
NEWARK, NJ - NJIT's ace
Aidan Kidd held visiting Binghamton to three runs over seven innings before the Highlanders offense exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the seventh to defeat the Bearcats 7-4 on Thursday in America East Conference at Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls.
The Highlanders are now 11-10 in America East this play and 12-4 in their first season at Yogi Berra Stadium.
Kidd put together one of the best starts of the season, opening with three scoreless innings before the Bearcats plated a pair in the fourth.
Binghamton added one more off of Kidd, who struck out five and walked just one, in the seventh to go ahead 3-0.
The NJIT offense rewarded Kidd for his quality start with seven runs in the home half of the seventh. The rally started with
Luke Longo drawing a walk, which was followed up by a base hit from
AJ Soldra and an RBI single from
Dillon Can to put the Highlanders on the board. NJIT kept the rally going when
Ty Sallie walked to load the bases and pinch hitter
Cole Campbell singled home Soldra to make it 3-2.
Albert Choi reached on an error that scored both Can and Sallie and put the Highlanders in front.
Cade Ladehoff then singled up the middle to score both Campbell and Choi and give NJIT a 6-3 advantage. The Highlanders added one more run on an RBI single from
Ray Ortiz.
Joe Georgini took over for Kidd in the eighth and did what he's done all season, pitched well with a lead. Georgini allowed a run in the eighth before tossing a scoreless ninth to close out the series-opening victory.
Three different Highlanders - Ladehoff, Ortiz, and Soldra - each had a pair of hits in the win. Ladehoff also had a pair of RBIs and is now up to 53 on the season, which extends his program record and puts him one off the America East lead.
Kidd now has 87 strikeouts this season, 10 more than any other America East pitcher.
NJIT and Binghamton will meet again on Friday as the Highlanders look to clinch the series. First pitch is slated for 4pm back at Yogi Berra Stadium.
