Box Score (.pdf)

Newark, N.J. – The NJIT Highlanders scored eight runs in the seventh inning as they defeated USC Upstate 8-6 at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

NJIT improves to 11-15 overall and 2-0 in the Atlantic Sun Conference while Upstate falls to 13-14 and 0-2.

Charlie Carpenter reached on an error to begin the second inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before a groundout and strikeout ended the frame. In the NJIT fourth, Stephan Halibej reached on a double with two outs before the Spartans got out of the inning on a groundout.

Bryan Haberstroh led off the NJIT fifth with a single, followed by a Michael Anastasia bunt single to put runners on first and second with no outs. Upstate starter Tyler Jackson got out of the inning unscathed thanks to a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to second base.

NJIT had runners at first and second thanks to a pair of one out singles in the sixth. Following a flyout, Upstate left fielder J.J. Shimko chased down a fly ball just a few steps from the warning track to end the inning.

Jake Beaver led off the Upstate seventh with a line drive home run down the right field line. Cody Brittain reached on a walk and scored after NJIT didn't cover third base or home plate following a Hunter Gilbert bunt single. Devon Ortiz hit his first collegiate home run to give the Spartans a 4-0 lead.

Anastasia led off the NJIT seventh with a single and scored on a Jesse Uttendorfer single before a two-run single by Justin Etts. The Highlanders took a 6-4 lead on a Cody Krame three-run home run and added two more runs on a Tom Brady double.

The Spartans plated a run in the eighth inning on a Beaver single and one in the ninth on a James Fowlkes two-out single. The Spartans had the go-ahead run at the plate with two outs before a groundout ended the game.

Beaver went 2-for-4 with a home run, single and two RBI. Ortiz went 1-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI. Fowlkes went 3-for-4 with three singles and an RBI. Gilbert went 2-for-4 with two singles.

Etts and Brady each went 2-for-4 with a single, double and two RBI. Anastasia went 2-for-3 with two singles. Kramer went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI.

Derer (2-1) earned the win, allowing four runs on three hits with two walks in 1.1 innings. Elijah Willingham (0-2) took the loss as he allowed two runs on one hit with one walk while facing two batters

The series concludes tomorrow at Noon.

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