NJIT Sweeps DH from Binghamton to Inch Closer to America East Playoff Spot

America East newcomer NJIT moved closer to a berth in the conference playoffs on Sunday, sweeping a doubleheader from visiting Binghamton at Jim Hynes Stadium. NJIT took game one 6-2, before completing the sweep with an 11-4 victory in game two.

The wins were crucial as NJIT (20-22, 19-17 AE) and Binghamton (15-17, 15-17 AE) entered this weekend's four game series tied for their division's final spot in the upcoming America East Playoffs. The teams remained tied after Saturday's doubleheader split, but now the Highlanders hold a two-game lead on the Bearcats heading into the final four games of the season.

Any combination of three NJIT wins vs. UMBC or Binghamton losses vs. Stony Brook next weekend would clinch the playoff spot for NJIT.

Game One Recap
Binghamton scored a pair of runs in the top of the first off of NJIT starter Grant Vurpillat, but the Highlanders answered immediately, tying the game at 2-2 on RBI singles from David Marcano and Luke Longo in the bottom of the first.

Vurpillat settled in from there and pitched four shutout innings as NJIT took the lead in the fourth on an RBI single from Albert Choi and broke the game open with three more runs in the fifth on RBIs from Cole Fleming, Nick Hussey and Choi.

Vurpillat, who retired the final 10 hitters he faced, struck out six in five innings of work before handing the ball to Jake Rappaport, who pitched a pair of shutout innings to close the game. 

David Marcano had a career-best four hits in four at bats and stole three bases to lead the NJIT offense.

Game Two Recap
Binghamton loaded the bases with nobody out in the first, but NJIT starter Jared Kacso was able to get out of the jam, thanks to a pop up and a tremendous defensive play from third baseman Jared Donnelly. After getting the pop up for the first out, Binghamton first baseman Kevin Gsell hit a ball that appeared to be going down the left field line for at least a two-run double, but Donnelly dove to his right and stopped the ball, before stepping on third base and firing the ball to Hussey at first base to complete the inning-ending double play.

Hussey then plated the first run of the game in the bottom of the second via a safety squeeze that scored Fleming. The lead became 2-0 in the fourth inning on another sacrifice from Hussey, this time a sacrifice fly that again scored Fleming.

Binghamton tied the game in the fifth inning, but an RBI double from Julio Marcano put NJIT back ahead in the home half of the inning. 

The game was tied 4-4 in the sixth when NJIT was able to go ahead for good, courtesy of another safety squeeze, this time from Donnelly, and a two-run home run from Choi that made it 7-4.

The Highlanders put the game away in the seventh with four more runs, with the big blows being RBI doubles from Fleming and Paul Franzoni.

Aidan Kidd earned the mound victory, while Croix Jenkins pitched two scoreless innings out of the bullpen and Evan Gegeckas tossed a scoreless ninth.

Choi extended his hitting streak to 13 games and his reached base streak to 27. Fleming and Choi each recorded two hits and knocked in a pair of runs.

On Deck
The Highlanders wrap up their regular season next weekend when they host UMBC in a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday back at Jim Hynes Stadium in Union.