Orono, Me. – The NJIT baseball team opened its series at Maine on Friday by splitting a doubleheader with the Black Bears. The Highlanders bounced back with a 10-6 win in game two after dropping a pitching duel in game one, 1-0.

Game 1: Maine 1, NJIT 0 (7 innings)
Pitching ruled throughout the opening game of the doubleheader, as both starting pitchers went the distance in this seven-inning affair. MT Morrissey pitched all six innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run while striking out five. The lone run of the game came across in the second inning on an RBI single from Myles Sargent. NJIT threatened early in the game, putting multiple runners aboard in the first two innings but were unable to score.

Game 2: NJIT 10, Maine 6
After being unable to score in game one, the Highlanders got the offense going early in game two. NJIT scored eight runs in the first two innings, the first three coming on a first inning home run from Austin Francis. In the second, the Highlanders rallied for five more runs, the first of which came courtesy of Jack Stead's second home run of the season. Later in the inning, Mason Wolf knocked in a run on an RBI single with the bases loaded to make it a 5-0 NJIT lead. After two more runs scored on wild pitches, Ty Sallie capped the inning with another RBI single to make it an 8-0 Highlander lead.

Maine tried clawing its way back late, using a four-run eighth inning to pull back with two, 8-6. NJIT would answer back in the ninth to pad its lead. Michael Doyle ripped an RBI double down the left field line to push the Highlander lead up to three. Later in the frame, Stead knocked in his second run of the game with an RBI triple to center.

Up Next
The Highlanders will conclude their three-game series against Maine on Saturday, with first pitch slated for 2 p.m.