UNION, N.J. - Freshman center fielder Logan Haskell belted a 3-run home run and junior closer Jack Collins stranded the tying run on second with a game-ending strikeout to carry Binghamton baseball (11-21, 7-9 America East) to a 7-5 win over NJIT (16-16, 10-6 AE) Friday night at Jim Hynes Stadium at Kean College. It was the opening game of a three-game weekend set against the defending conference champions and the Bearcats win was their fifth in the last seven against America East opponents.

Tied 4-4 in the eighth, BU pushed across the go-ahead run with two outs. Freshman second baseman Nick Roselli drew a walk to lead off. He was sacrificed to second by sophomore catcher Kevin Reilly. Senior shortstop Jake Evans hit an infield single and Roselli came in to score on an errant throw to first. 

Both teams plated runs in a dramatic ninth inning. The Bearcats scored two more runs to pad their lead, thanks to four walks and three wild pitches. Haskell, junior catcher Connor Aoki and freshman DH Evin Sullivan drew walks to load the bases and Reilly earned an RBI walk to make it 6-4. Aoki then scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-4. 

The Highlanders made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth by scoring a run and then putting two runners in scoring position before Collins closed the door. After a leadoff home run, double and hit batter, BU's lead was in jeopardy before Colllins got a strikeout, infield pop-up and strikeout to end the game and notch his fifth save of the season. 

Sophomore reliever Justin Rosner (W, 2-1) worked two shutout innings with four strikeouts. Junior starter Thomas Babalis went 6.0 innings and struck out nine in a no-decision.

The Bearcats shook off a 3-0 NJIT lead with three runs in the top of the third - complements of Haskell, who registered his first collegiate home run when he took a 1-0 pitch quickly over the wall in left field. Evans (2-for-4) led off the inning with a double and junior left fielder Cavan Tully singled, setting the stage for Haskell's game-tying blast. 

Each team scored in the sixth. Binghamton got its run after a Roselli lead-off double and Reilly single. Freshman third baseman Devan Bade scored Roselli with an RBI fielder's choice grounder. NJIT tied it in the bottom of the frame with a leadoff home run. 

The Bearcats stayed patient at the plate and drew 10 walks to boost an eight-hit attack. On the hill, the three BU pitchers fanned 15 hitters. 

The teams continue the series with a 1 p.m. start on Saturday.