BALTIMORE --
Dylan Melton went 4-for-5 with 3 RBI out of the leadoff spot and
Ehi Okojie hit a go ahead grand slam as the UMBC Baseball team defeated visiting NJIT, 12-4, on Thursday night at Alumni Field.
UMBC (26-22, 13-9 AE) clinched a top three seed in next week's America East Tournament with the win.
After NJIT went up 3-0 on three-run homer in the top of the second, the Retrievers responded in a big way in the bottom half of the inning.
Brooks Henderson hit a leadoff double and would score on a one out single by Melton to make it 3-1. Okojie then came up with the bases loaded and two outs and blasted a 1-1 pitch well over the fence in left to give the Dawgs a 5-3 lead.
UMBC added three more in the fourth after Mascuilli walked and Okojie singled with two outs to put runners on the corners.
Danny Wyatt then scored Mascuilli on an RBI single and
Derek Paris followed with a two-run double.
The Highlanders got a run back in the seventh on a solo homer, but the Retrievers answered with four in the bottom of the inning. With one out,
Kyle Eddington was hit by a pitch and
Jesiah Carpenter followed with a bunt single. Melton then plated both on a two-run double.
Danny Orr and Wyatt each had two-out RBI singles later in the inning to account for the final score.
Senior
Eddie Sargent picked up the win in his final career home start, needing just 78 pitches to go five innings, allowing just three hits and striking out seven.
Bennett Speicher earned his second save of the season, going the final four innings and allowing just one run on two hits.
Wyatt went 3-for-5, while Mascuilli, Orr and Okojie each had two hits.
Game two of the series is slated for 6 p.m. on Friday at Alumni Field.
