HUNTSVILLE – Sam Houston got the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning, but an 8-run hole was too much to dig out of as NJIT picked up a 9-5 win on Friday afternoon in the opener of a 4-game series at Don Sanders Stadium. 

The Highlanders (1-4) led 4-1 after seven innings following a 7-strikeout performance from winning pitcher Holden deJong, then added one more in the eighth and put up what turned out to be a key 4-run top of the ninth, highlighted by a 3-run homer from Ray Ortiz to give NJIT a 9-1 advantage going into the Bearkats' (1-4) final at-bat. 

Sam Houston then batted around in the ninth and scored four times before ultimately leaving the bases loaded with the tying run at the plate.  

deJong picked up his first win of the season for NJIT, while Anthony Anzaldi got the final two outs of the game for his first save. 

Bearkat starter Ryan Peterson fell to 0-2 with the loss. The sophomore righty was not as he was on Opening Night vs Missouri State, lasting 5.0 innings but striking out just two hitting four Highlanders.  

Garrett Baumann came into allow just one run in 3.0 strong innings of relief. 

At the plate, Blake Brown had a pair of hits and drove in each of the first two runs of the night for Sam Houston. Ty Marthiljohni also turned in a 3-for-4 night. Hunter Autrey finished 0-for-2, but drew three walks, had a stolen base and scored twice from the leadoff spot. 

UP NEXT 
Sam Houston and NJIT are set to play a pair of games on Saturday with the twinbill being moved up to an 11:30 a.m. first pitch for Game 1. The second game will start approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of Game 1. Both games can be heard live on the Bearkat Sports Network.