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NEWARK, NJ—Evan Fernandez's two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning, lifted visiting Jacksonville to a 5-3 victory over NJIT in ASUN Conference action Saturday afternoon at Riverfront Stadium.

The Dolphins (17-16, 4-1 ASUN) tied the game, 3-3, with a single run in the eighth and took the lead in the ninth on a two-run homer to left field by Fernandez.

NJIT's (3-24, 0-5 ASUN) leadoff batter in the ninth, 2B Tom Brady singled through the right side but a groundball double play left the Highlanders with one out in the bottom of the ninth.  After a walk by 1B Johnny Malatesta, RF Matthew Cocciadiferro ended the game with a grounder to shortstop as the visiting Dolphins held on for a 5-3 win.

The winning pitcher for Jacksonville was credited to LHP Matt Meyer (1-1), who pitched 1.2 innings, entering the game in the middle of the seventh, allowing two hits and no runs with one strikeout. 

Jacksonville's RHP Spencer Stockton, who recorded the win in the Dolphins Friday night 13-11 victory in 10-innings, picked up his second save of the season, pitching a scoreless ninth inning, giving up one hit.

Fernandez finished 3-for-5 with three RBI and one run, including his second home run of the season while C Jacob Southern went 3-for-5 with one RBI.  Dolphins 3B Alex Seifert recorded a pair of singles in the win.

The Highlanders used four pitchers, as Andres Fernandez (0-3) took the loss, as the junior right-hander entered the game in the top of the ninth, letting up two hits and two runs.

Senior C Cody Kramer went 3-for-4 with one RBI while Brady and SS Justin Etts finished 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Visiting Jacksonville got things started in the top of third inning, recording three consecutive singles with two outs.  1B Angel Camacho singled through the right side and Fernandez followed up with an RBI single through the left side, scoring Camacho for the first run of the game.  Southern knocked a single up the middle, driving in the Dolphins second run of the game, jumping out to a 2-0 lead.

Sophomore Etts drove in the Highlanders first run of the game in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out single to right center, scoring Cocciadiferro, pulling within one run of the Dolphins, 2-1.  Cocciadiferro reached first on a walk and advanced to second on a groundout to second.

NJIT tied the game in the seventh inning, on a soft single to third by Kramer, driving in LF Jesse Uttendorfer, knotting the game at 2-2.  The Highlanders then went ahead, 3-2, with runners at the corners, as a throwing error by Jacksonville catcher sailed into center field in an attempt to throw out Kramer at second, sending NJIT's Uttendorfer home for the Highlanders third run of the game.

The two teams will conclude the three-game series on Sunday at Riverfront Stadium.  First pitch is set for 12Noon.