Little Falls, N.J. – Andrew Eppinger launched a pair of solo home runs but the NJIT baseball team dropped its series opener to Maine, 12-4, on Friday night at Yogi Berra Stadium.

How it Happened
After Maine took an early lead thanks to a three-run home run in the top of the first inning, Eppinger drew the Highlanders one run closer in the second. Leading off the frame, the graduate student laced a solo home run to left center to get NJIT on the board. However, Maine would respond in the third with a grand slam to vault itself out to a 7-1 lead.

Eppinger would tag his second home run of the game in the fourth, getting behind a 2-0 fastball and rocketing it out to left field. Eppinger entered the game with just one career home run over 82 games played for the Highlanders in his career.

After Eppinger's blast, the Black Bears would be undeterred in tacking on more runs. The lead for Maine would eventually grow to 12-3 entering the bottom of the ninth, where Mattie Thomas launched a home run of his own to put another run up for the home side.

Up Next
NJIT and Maine square off in game two of their series on Saturday night at 7:45 p.m.