Little Falls, N.J. -- Luke Johnson was once again spectacular on the mound, but host NJIT rallied for four runs in the seventh to defeat the UMBC Baseball team, 7-6, on Friday night.

Johnson allowed just one earned run in 6 innings of work, striking out five and walking none.

The Retrievers took a 6-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh, but defensive miscues doomed them as the Highlanders plated four and UMBC couldn't respond.

Kyle Eddington put UMBC up 2-0 in the second with a two-run double. UMBC added two more in the third on a a Danny Wyatt sacrifice fly and a Dawson Baracani RBI single.

NJIT would get three back in the fifth (two unearned), but the Retrievers would capitalize on four Highlander errors in the top of the seventh to extend the lead to 6-3. Three straight errors to start the seventh made it 5-3 UMBC, and Matt Ryan followed with an RBI double to make it 6-3.

After NJIT re-took the lead, Jayden Sherteal pinch-hit and drew a one out walk in the top of the eighth, but a double play ended the threat.

Game two of the series will be at 6 p.m. on Saturday.