JACKSONVILLE, FL—Jacksonville erased an early 2-1 deficit and went on to win 10-2 in ASUN Conference action Friday evening at John Sessions Stadium.
The Dolphins improve to 29-13 overall, 7-3 in the ASUN while the Highlanders move to an even 17-17 overall, 4-9 in the ASUN.
Jacksonville was led by 1B Angel Camacho (1-for-4; 4 RBI) and Franco Guardascione (2-for-4; 3 RBI), who drove in a combined seven runs while SS Scott Dubrule (1-for-4; 2 RBI) knocked in a pair of runs for the home team.
Starting pitcher Chris Gau picked up his sixth win of the season, improving to 6-2, pitching 7.0 strong innings, allowing just two Highlander runs while striking out three batters. Gau and relievers Austin Temple and Nathan Disch held the Highlanders scoreless for the final seven innings of action.
NJIT scored its only runs in the bottom of the second an RBI double to left center by C
Paul Franzoni and an RBI single through the right side by SS
Justin Etts.
Franzoni finished 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run followed by Etts who went 2-for-4 with one RBI. Senior DH
Evan Pietronico finished 3-for-4 for the Highlanders.
NJIT starting RHP
Jared Kacso (2-5) was credited with the loss, pitching 3.2 innings allowing eight hits and seven runs.
Brett Lubreski pitched a scoreless fifth while
Andres Fernandez held the Dolphins scoreless in the eighth.
A two-run third inning proved to be the difference, as Jacksonville put the leadoff batter on and the pair came into score to give the Dolphins a 3-2 lead. Ruben Someillan started the inning with a single followed by a Chris Lehane double to right. After Scott Dubrule was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Camacho hit into a fielder's choice plating Someillan, and Sam Armstrong drove in Lehane with a sacrifice fly.
The scoring started with a sacrifice fly from Camacho to make it 1-0 in the first, after Someillan and Lehane both singled to start the bottom half.
NJIT responded with two in the top of the second. A one out single followed by a double tied it, and one out later another single gave the Highlanders the advantage, 2-1.
Jacksonville tacked on four more in the fourth to make it 7-2 with a two-out rally and a Gaurdascione three-run home run in the seventh secured the 10-2 win.
The two teams will return to action on Saturday at 7pm.
