LITTLE FALLS, N.J. — The NJIT baseball team drops series finale to Niagara, 8–6, on Sunday Afternoon at Yogi Berra Stadium.

The Highlanders plated three runs in the bottom of the first despite recording just one hit. After Cole Campbell drew a leadoff walk, Austin Francis ripped an RBI double down the left-field line to open the scoring. Later in the inning, Rowin O'Connor and Jake Meyers each worked bases-loaded walks to push the lead to 3–0.

The Purple Eagles answered with a run in the second before the Highlanders added two more in the bottom half of the frame. Francis reached base again and later came around to score, while Connor Klock reached on a fielding error that allowed two runs to cross and extend the Highlanders' lead to 5–1.

Starting pitcher Tate Jones held the Purple Eagles largely in check through five innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs while striking out three.

The game shifted in the sixth inning when the Purple Eagles erupted for six runs, highlighted by a grand slam to give the Purple Eagles their first lead of the afternoon. The Purple Eagles added another run later in the inning to move ahead 7–5.

The Highlanders threatened late, loading the bases in the ninth inning. Lorenzo Camilleri lifted a sacrifice fly to score a run and trim the deficit to 8–6, but the Highlanders were unable to push across another run as the Purple Eagles closed out the victory.

Francis led the Highlanders offensively, finishing 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, and an RBI. 

Next Up
NJIT looks to bounce back on Tuesday, the 17th as the Highlanders travel to Fairfield for non-conference midweek matchup starting at 3:00 p.m.