Highlanders Score Five in the Ninth to Take Series from UMass Lowell

Published: Sunday, May 12, 2024
NJIT Wins 13-10 as Kevin Putsky and Dillon Can Each Knock in Three Runs

The NJIT baseball team broke an 8-8 tie with five runs in the top of the ninth and held off host UMass Lowell in the bottom half of the inning to win 13-10 and take the three-game America East series from the River Hawks.

The Highlanders led 7-2 before a UML comeback was completed with a three-run seventh inning to tie the game 8-8.

VIDEO: NJIT Highlights

After neither team scored in the eighth, Luke Longo drew a one-out walk in the ninth to ignite the big ninth inning for the Highlanders. Ty Sallie singled to move Longo to second to set up Dillon Can's two-out, go-ahead single which he hit right back up the middle to score Longo.

The Highlanders made it 11-8 when Sallie and Can scored on an error by the River Hawks. Kevin Putsky's third hit of the afternoon, a double to right-centerfield scored Albert Choi and Cade Ladehoff and gave the Highlanders a comfortable five-run cushion. 

Veteran Joe Georgini did his job in the bottom of the ninth, preserving the victory for his sixth win of the season. 

UML scored twice in the first inning to take an early lead, but the Highlanders went in front with a six-run second inning, which was highlighted by a two-RBI double off the bat of freshman AJ Soldra. 

The Highlanders added another run in the third on a sacrifice fly from Can. After UML made the score 7-4 in the sixth, Ladehoff answered with his 11th home run of the season to put NJIT back ahead by four. 

The River Hawks answered, however, tying the game with a big seventh inning of their own. 

Drew Standen started on the mound for the Highlanders and struck out three in three innings of work. Georgini, who also earned the save on Friday, struck out three in 2.2 innings of work. All three strikeouts came in the 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth inning.

Offensively, the Highlanders were led by Putsky, who finished 3-for-5 with three RBI. Can was 2-for-3 and also knocked in three runs while scoring twice. Soldra was 2-for-4 and also reached base via a hit by pitch. Sallie reached base four times and scored twice as he drew three walks to go along with his ninth inning single. 

Ladehoff's 11th home run tied him with Putsky for the team lead. The freshman now has 49 RBI, which extends the program's single-season record. 

NJIT will close out its regular season with four home games at Yogi Berra this week. The Highlanders will host Monmouth on Tuesday and then welcome Binghamton to Little Falls for a three-game series from Thursday through Saturday.