Highlanders Win 6-3 on Sunday to Take Pivotal Series From Binghamton

Published: Sunday, May 8, 2022
NJIT Now Sits One Game Ahead of the Bearcats in the AE Playoff Race

The NJIT baseball team got a first inning home run from Julio Marcano on Sunday and never looked back en route to a 6-3 victory over host Binghamton in America East Conference action.

The victory clinched the series for the Highlanders as the teams split the first two games and, more importantly, gives NJIT a one-game lead over Binghamton for the second bye in the upcoming America East Playoffs with six regular season games remaining.

Following Marcano's early home run, Aidan Kidd kept the Bearcats off the scoreboard in the bottom of the first.

NJIT made its lead 3-0 in the second thanks to a two-out, two-run double off the bat of nine-hitter Jared Donnelly. Donnelly's double just bounced in front of a sliding Binghamton outfielder and gives him 26 RBI this season, which ties for the third-most on the squad.

Binghamton scored in the bottom of the second, but the Highlanders were able to get that run back immediately as a sacrifice fly from Kevin Putsky put NJIT ahead 4-1. 

The lead increased to 6-1 in the fifth when Paul Franzoni and Putsky recorded back-to-back sacrifice flies to score Julio Marcano and Albert Choi, respectively.

Joe Georgini replaced Kidd after Binghamton cut the NJIT lead to 6-2 with a two-out double in the fifth inning. Georgini was effective, not allowing a run until a lead off home run in the ninth made the score 6-2.

Binghamton continued to threaten in the ninth as Grant Vurpillat replaced Georgini and was able to get a strikeout, a weak fly ball, and then a ground out with the potential game-winning run at the plate. The save was the second in as many games for Vurpillat, who appeared in three games this week and tossed six scoreless innings. 

Choi paced the NJIT offense with his second-straight three-hit game.

Marcano's first inning home run was his fifth of the season and 26th of his career, which ties teammate Paul Franzoni for the program record. The graduate student scored three times on Sunday to add to another of his records, the program's all-time runs record. 

NJIT returns to the diamond on Friday for the first of a three-game America East Conference series at UMBC. First pitch of game one is slated for 6 p.m on Friday evening.