BOX SCORE

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Junior Jared Wagoner threw seven shutout innings and junior leadoff man Luke Duncan led the offense as the Butler baseball team won its season opener, 9-3, against NJIT. The game was the first of four in the season-opening weekend in South Carolina.

Wagoner (1-0) allowed just three hits and struck out four against one walk. He never allowed multiple baserunners in a very successful first start.

Seniors Tyler Szymczak pitched a scoreless eighth inning and fellow Jamie Feldheiser worked the ninth.

Duncan went 3-for-5 with two runs and two stolen bases. Freshman Andrew Eckhardt and junior Grant Fillipitch each had two hits and junior Corey Moylan drove in a pair of runs.

NJIT didn't score until the ninth, when Butler already led 9-0. The Dogs got on the board with three runs in the fifth. Junior Michael Letzter drew a one-out walk and scored and Duncan and Eckhardt each singled and scored. Letzter scored another run in the sixth and junior Jack Krause added another run to put the Bulldogs ahead 5-0.

BU would go on to score four more in the bottom of the eighth to break the game open.

NJIT's Bryan Bleakley went 2-for-3 and homered to lead the Highlanders.

The Bulldogs will play a doubleheader vs. host Wofford Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. Sophomore Mike Hernandez and freshman Kyle Kramp will start on the mound for Butler.