Highlanders Complete Weekend Sweep Over Iona
The NJIT baseball team completed a three-game sweep of Iona after winning both ends of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Yogi Berra Stadium. The Highlanders broke out the bats in a game one win, 16-3, before using a gem from MT Morrissey in game two for a 3-2 win.
Game 1: NJIT 16, Iona 3
Cole Campbell set the tone early on, launching his first home run of the season over the wall in right field to put NJIT on the board early. Two more would come across for NJIT in the fourth inning on an RBI double from Mattie Thomas and a fielder's choice from Andrew Hart. The Highlanders would then double the lead in the fifth, the first tally coming off an RBI single from Ty Sallie. After Jaden Caballero brought in a run on a successful squeeze play, Austin Francis would tack on NJIT's sixth run of the day with an RBI triple.
Iona would try and chip away by scoring a pair of runs in the seventh on a two-run double. The Highlanders would respond immediately with four runs in the seventh, the first coming across after another run-scoring hit from Francis. After a throwing error brought in NJIT's eighth run, Campbell allowed two more to come home on an RBI single. The Highlanders would then break the game open in the eighth with a six-run frame to pull away for good.
Game 2: NJIT 3, Iona 2
Just like game one, the Highlanders took the early advantage in the bottom of the first inning. Campbell would reach to start the inning on a throwing error, and would move over to third after a sacrifice bunt. After a strikeout, Andrew Eppinger lined a double to left field to give the home side the early edge. NJIT would then tack on two more in the third after a SAC fly from Eppinger and an RBI groundout from Sallie.
NJIT starter MT Morrissey was cruising on the mound, setting down the side in order through the first two innings and facing the minimum through three. Iona would crack the scoreboard in the fifth on a fielder's choice, the only inning in which the Gaels put a runner in scoring position against Morrissey.
Nate DeSchryver would pitch the final two innings for NJIT but ran into some trouble in the eighth. Iona loaded the bases against the righty, drawing one run closer on a two-out bases loaded walk. DeSchryver would regroup to get a strikeout to escape the jam, and work around a leadoff single in the ninth to pick up the save.
Up Next
The Highlanders return to Yogi Berra Stadium on Wednesday night to face Monmouth at 6 p.m.