O'Neill, Haberman Lift Pirates Past NJIT, 8-5

Tuesday, March 26

Jim Hynes Baseball Stadium / Union, N.J.

7:00 PM

Seton Hall University

7-12

NJIT

8-10-1

NJIT

Seton Hall

3/27/2019 12:14:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score HOME INFO BOX SCORE

UNION, N.J. – Freshman Brennan O'Neill (Morristown, N.J.) tossed six scoreless innings, and David Haberman (Morristown, N.J.) belted a three-run home run to lift the Seton Hall baseball team to an 8-5 victory over NJIT on Tuesday at Kean University

O'Neill dazzled, tossing a career-high six innings, while scattering just four hits, and striking out a career-high six batters without a walk to earn the victory. The Pirates' victory is their fourth straight after starting the season 3-12.

Haberman entered the contest seeking his first collegiate hit. In the bottom of the second inning, it came by way of a three-run home run to put the Pirates on the scoreboard. He finished with four RBIs for the game as he added a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.

What Happened:
In the bottom of the second, Matt Toke (Three Bridges, N.J.) led off with a single through the right side. With one out, he advanced to second on a single up the middle by Thomas Holdorf (Freehold, N.J.). That's when Haberman delivered his three-run bomb over the left field fence to give The Hall a 3-0 lead. Freshman Steve Grober (Hillsborough, N.J.) made it back-to-back home runs as he lifted his first career long-ball over the left field fence as well to put the Pirates in front, 4-0.

Still leading by four, The Hall benefited from a lack of control from NJIT pitchers in the bottom of the fifth. Highlander pitchers walked six Pirate batters in the inning, and aided by an NJIT error, The Hall turned them into four more runs. Two of the Highlander walks forced in runs. The Pirates scored four times and left the bases full, despite not collecting a hit in the inning.

Trailing 8-0, NJIT scored a single run in the eighth, and four times in the ninth, but the Pirates were able to hold them off.

Inside the Numbers:

NJIT out-hit Seton Hall, 8-to-5. Both teams committed one error.
O'Neill tossed six scoreless innings, scattering just four hits, while striking out six and walking none to earn the victory.
Haberman had a three-run home run, a sacrifice fly and four RBIs.
Grober belted his first career home run, a solo shot in the second inning.
Sophomore Jerry Huntzinger (Staten Island, N.Y.) went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and a career-high three stolen bases.
Sophomore Sean Miller (Newton, N.J.) tossed a scoreless seventh inning and struck out the side.
Seton Hall left six men on base, while NJIT left 10.
NJIT's Jake Rappaport took the loss. He allowed four runs over 1.1 innings pitched.

News & Notes:

The Pirates improve to 7-12 on the season, while NJIT falls to 8-10-1. The Hall's current four-game win streak is its longest of the season so far.
Seton Hall improves to 14-1 all-time against the Highlanders.
Sophomore Casey Dana (Montgomery, N.J.) has reached base in 12 consecutive games, a season-high for any Pirate. He had two walks tonight.
Dana's two walks tonight, tie him for second in the BIG EAST Conference with 17 this season.
Senior reliever Chris Miranda (Bedford, N.J.) made his Seton Hall debut.
The home runs for Haberman and Grober were the first of their collegiate careers.

Next Up:
Seton Hall will return to action on Wednesday when it makes the short trip to Teaneck, N.J. for a contest at Fairleigh Dickinson. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.