NJIT Routs Davidson to Take Opening Weekend Series

The NJIT baseball team used a 10-run third inning to defeat host Davidson in the rubber match of a three-game series hosted by the Wildcats this weekend at Wilson Field. 

Davidson, which didn't drop a series at all in a 43-win 2021 season, scored twice in the bottom of the first, but the Highlanders took the lead back immediately, plating three runs in the top of the second. Each of NJIT's outfielders - Albert Choi, Andrew Elcock, and Ty Sallie - drove in a run to put the Highlanders back on top.

After starting pitcher Joe Georgini shut down the Wildcats in the home half of the second, the Highlanders broke the game open with the aforementioned 10-run third. Jared Donnelly provided the big blow of the inning, clearing the bases with a grand slam over the right field wall and fellow captain Cole Fleming made it back-to-back home runs with a solo shot. 

NJIT coasted from there and led by as many 12, 14-2 at one point, before the Wildcats added some runs late to make the final margin eight. 

Georgini settled in after the first inning and pitched well with the lead, tossing five innings en route to his first victory of the season. Tyler Cirone came out of the bullpen with runners on in the seventh and worked out of the jam, while also pitching the eighth inning for the Highlanders. Freshman Holden de Jong made his collegiate debut in the ninth and tossed a perfect inning with a pair of weak flyouts and ending the game with a ground ball back to the mound.

Six different Highlanders recorded two hits in the victory, including Donnelly, who knocked in a career-high five runs. Choi, Fleming, and Luke Longo finished with two RBIs as every player in the NJIT starting lineup scored at least one run. 

The Highlanders will head back to North Carolina next weekend when they take on Purdue in a four-game series in Holly Springs, North Carolina.