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LYNCGBURG, VA—Sophomore LF Julio Marcano paced NJIT, going 3-for-5 with four RBI, leading the Highlanders to a 9-2 ASUN Conference win at Liberty Saturday afternoon at Liberty Baseball Stadium.

NJIT (8-8-1, 1-1 ASUN) evened the three-game series with the Flames at 1-1, scoring four runs in the second, two in the seventh and three in the ninth, behind strong pitching from starting right-hander Tyler Stafflinger (1-1) and relievers Joe Georgini and Bryce Short.

WATCH: NJIT Highlights at Liberty | Game Two

Julio Marcano, who was selected to the Freshman All-American team by the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper last season, finished the game with a double (his fourth of the season) and two singles while driving in a game-best four RBI.

Freshman 2B Jared Donnelly drove in a pair of runs for the Highlanders, finishing 2-for-4 with two runs, including two doubles in the victory.

Three different Highlanders – SS Brett Helmkamp (2-for-5), 3B David Marcano (2-for-6) and 1B Nick Hussey (2-for-4; three runs) each recorded two hits in the Highlanders win.
Stafflinger, the Highlanders starting pitcher, went 6.0 innings, allowing eight hits and just two Flame runs while striking out four batters. 

The Highlander bullpen tandem Georgini, a right-hander from Casa Grande, AZ, held the Flames scoreless and hitless in the seventh and eighth while sophomore Short from Murrieta, CA, closed the door, allowing just one hit in the ninth.

Liberty (16-6, 1-1 ASUN) struck first in the bottom of the first on a single through the right side by 1B Logan Mathieu.

NJIT took the lead in the top of the second, 4-1, scoring four runs on four hits after an RBI double to right field by Donnelly, a passed ball, which scored DH Tom Brady, sacrifice fly to left field by Helmkamp and sacrifice fly to right field by RF Matthew Cocciadiferro.

The Flames added a single run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single down the right field line by C Jonathan Embry.

The visitors scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh on a two-out two-RBI single through the left side by Julio Marcano, scoring Hussey and CF Michael Anastasia, taking a 6-2 lead.

Donnelly and Julio Marcano struck again for the Highlanders in the top of the ninth, as Donnelly recorded his second RBI double of the game and Marcano drove in two runs with a single to center field, extending the Highlander lead, 9-2.

NJIT and Liberty will conclude the three-game series on Sunday at 1pm.