Box Score NEWARK, N.J. – NJIT rallied past Saint Peter's 6-5 in non-conference baseball action on Tuesday.
Angel Perez (Jersey City, N.J./Marist HS) paced the Peacocks (6-30) with three hits, a run scored and an RBI. Mike Ionta (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) added two hits, a run scored and an RBI while Nick Ciocco (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill) and Jason Midkiff (Wanaque, N.J./Paramus Catholic) each had two hits and a run scored in the loss.
Stephan Halibej powered the Highlanders (16-23) with two hits, two RBIs and a run scored. Evan Pietronico and Johnny Malatesta each posted a hit, a run scored and two RBIs in the winning effort.
NJIT jumped out to the early lead only to see Saint Peter's score five-straight run to take the advantage before the Highlanders scored the final three runs to earn the victiory and complete the three-game sweep against the neighboring town rival.
After the Peacocks scored five unanswered runs to take a 5-3 lead, the Highlanders posted three runs in the seventh to retake the advantage at 6-5. Pietronico tied the game with a two-run homer and then Haliebej gave NJIT a one-run lead with an RBI single to right center.
Midkiff singled through the left side to open the eighth and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ciocco, but a strikeout and ground out ended the threat with the Newark program still holding the one-run lead.
In the ninth with two outs, Jon Kristoffersen (Jefferson, N.J./Jefferson Township) and Rob Moore (Ridge, N.Y./Longwood) walked before a fielder's choice groundout ended the game.
The Highlanders jumped out to a 3-0 lead after scoring two runs in the second and one in the third. Malatesta handed NJIT a 2-0 margin in the second with a two-run single to right center before Halibej homered in the third to increase the advantage to three runs.
Saint Peter's then scored the next five runs to take a 5-3 lead after scoring a run in the fourth, three in the fifth and a run in the sixth.
In the third, Midkiff singled to center with two outs and moved to third on Ciocco's opposite field single before the senior touched home on Nick Camilleri's (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep) RBI infield single.
The Peacocks then scored three times in the fifth to take their first lead of the day at 4-3. With one out, Perez singled up the middle and stole second before he scored on Ionta's RBI single to right. Ionta then made his way around the bases on a pair of wild pitches to put the sophomore at third before Moore walked. The duo then attempted a double steal with Ionta scoring on an error on the play with Moore recorded the stolen base. James Spadaccini (Butler, N.J./Butler) then gave the Jersey City team a one-run lead on an run-scoring single to left to bring home Moore.
Ciocco was the catalyst for a run in the sixth. The sophomore singled to right, moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt and to third on Camilleri's infield single to put runners at the corners. With two ours, Perez singled through the left side to score Ciocco to hand Saint Peter's a 5-3 edge.
Nick Arre (Hillsdale, N.Y./Taconic Hills) allowed three runs on two hits with four strikeouts and four walks in six innings of work. Tom Puza (Point Pleasant, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) took the loss for the Peacocks.
Saint Peter's returns to action on Wednesday at Seton Hall. Game time is 4 p.m.
