BRIGHTON, MA -- The NJIT baseball team upsets No. 22 Boston College in game one of the double header, 8-7, on Sunday afternoon to secure the program's first ranked win since the 2018 season.
Game 1: NJIT 8, No. 22 Boston College 7
The Highlanders wasted little time taking control as Rowin O'Connor launched a solo home run to left field in the top of the first inning, giving the Highlanders an early 1-0 lead.
The Highlanders added two more runs in the second when Cole Campbell opened the frame with a solo homer before Dillon Can singled and later scored on an RBI base hit from Sheehan O'Connor, extending the advantage to 3-0.
The Eagles answered with a run in the third on a sacrifice fly and then took their first lead of the game plating three more runs to take the lead, 4-3.
In the fifth inning, Austin Francis was hit by a pitch to start the rally before Rowin O'Connor singled through the right side. Campbell tied the game with an RBI single, and Brody Levin followed with an RBI base hit to put the Highlanders back in front, 5-4. Two batters later, Can crushed a three-run home run to left field, capping the five-run frame and extending the Highlanders' lead to 8-4.
The Eagles chipped away in the bottom half of the inning with a double and added another run in the sixth on a single to trim the deficit to 8-7.
After starter Josh Willitts allowed six runs over 4.2 innings, Tade Riordan entered and delivered 4.1 strong innings out of the bullpen to earn the victory. Riordan allowed just one run on three hits while striking out two and retiring the Eagles in order in both the seventh and eighth innings.
The Highlanders' offense was powered by multi-hit performances from Rowin O'Connor, Campbell, Camilleri, Can and Sheehan O'Connor. Can drove in a game-high three runs with his fifth-inning homer, while Campbell added two hits and two RBIs. Rowin O'Connor finished with two hits, including his sixth home run of the season.
This is the first ranked win for the program since 2018 when the Highlanders took down No.25 ranked Jacksonville, 3-2, on April 29th.
Game 2: No. 22 Boston College 6, NJIT 3
In game two of the double header, the Eagles scored twice in the first inning before the Highlanders answered in the fourth with back-to-back solo home runs from Rowin O'Connor and Conner Rippo to even the game at 2-2.
The Highlanders took its only lead in the fifth inning when Nick Vega and Sheehan O'Connor opened the frame with singles before Rowin O'Connor delivered an RBI single to center, putting the Highlanders ahead 3-2.
The Eagles responded with a three-run bottom of the fifth to regain the lead and added an insurance run in the sixth.
The Highlanders finished with 11 hits, led by Rowin O'Connor, who went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs. Rippo added a solo homer, while Connor Klock recorded two hits.
Brandon Peterson struck out four in 4.2 innings, and Becker Sybirski tossed 2.1 scoreless innings in relief with two strikeouts.
Up Next
NJIT closes out the regular season down in Baltimore as the Highlanders take on UMBC for the final series starting on Thursday, the 14th with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
