Highlanders Hand Chargers First Conference Loss, 7-4

Courtesy of Stephanie Pillari, Assistant Sports Information Director at NJIT

SOMERSET, NJ - The New Jersey Institute of Technology baseball team defeated Dominican College in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference match-up today, 7-4 at Commerce Bank Park in Somerset, NJ.

The Highlanders improve their record to 9-8 overall, 2-4 in the CACC while Dominican suffers their first loss in the conference, falling to 17-10 overall, 5-1 in the CACC.

The Chargers jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first with two outs and a runner on third when Jose Escalara (Bronx, NY) hit a hard grounder to shortstop Justin Racz, which Racz made a back handed play but couldn't come up with the throw, putting the Chargers up 1-0.

The Highlanders returned the runs in the bottom of the first, scoring five runs on four hits. Junior Derrick McCain started the rally with an RBI double over the centerfielder's head, scoring Craig Binkiewicz, who led off the inning with a walk. First baseman Austin DeRogatis reached first on a walk while third baseman Mike Turner followed with a single up the middle. Designated hitter Rob Forbes stepped up to the plate with two outs and a 0-2 count when he ripped a three-run homerun over the left field wall, pushing the Highlanders in front, 5-1.

NJIT added another run in the following inning when DeRogatis hit an RBI single.

In the third and fourth innings, Dominican posted three runs on four hits, decreasing the lead to 6-3. Tom Keegan (Dickson City PA), the CACC Player of the Week, Keith Gebert (Brooklyn, NY) and Escalara all recorded RBI. 

The Highlanders gave relief pitcher Peter Rivera a cushion by tacking on another run in the bottom of the eighth when second baseman Dan Morogiello hit an RBI single to right field.

Reliever Peter Rivera (1-0) earns his first win of the season pitching 5 ½ innings, scattering one hit, walking two, and striking out seven. Charger pitcher Matt Dilgen (Staten Island, NY) records the loss, pitching eight innings, letting up six hits and striking out seven.

The Highlanders offense was led by Rob Forbes who hit 3-for-4 with three RBI and one run. Forbes hit his first homerun of the season in the bottom of the first. McCain went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. McCain had two doubles in the game.

For the Chargers, CACC Rookie of the Week Jose Made (Binghamton, NY) hit 2-for-2 with one run while teammate  Gebert went 2-for-5 with two runs and one RBI.

The Chargers are back in action on Sunday, April 2nd when they wrap up the three game series with the Highlanders with a doubleheader starting at 12pm at Nyack High School.