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WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ—Monmouth picked up a 3-1 victory over visiting NJIT Wednesday afternoon in non-conference baseball action at MU Baseball Field.

Monmouth (17-23-1) broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth, scoring a pair of runs and added an insurance run in the sixth, taking a 3-0 lead.

NJIT's (12-21-1) lone run of the game came in the top of the seventh on an RBI single to left field by David Marcano, driving in Paul Franzoni, who led off the inning with a single to second base.

In the fifth for the Hawks, Robbie Holmes singled and went to second on a wild pitch, and a pair of walks filled the bases with two away for Colin McCreary, who served a single into left center to plate the first two runs of the game.

Monmouth added its lone run in the bottom of the sixth on a deep sacrifice fly to the wall in right by Holmes.

NJIT's run in the seventh was driven in by David Marcano's single to left field. 

The Highlanders threatened in the ninth with two runners on but Monmouth's Ryan Steckline recorded the final out and earned his third save of the season.

Freshman Hunter Harris (1-3), the Highlanders third pitcher in the game, was credited with the loss, allowing two hits and two runs.

NJIT starting pitcher freshman RHP Joe Georgini pitched two scoreless innings, letting up one hit while striking out a pair of Hawk batters. 

Sophomore LHP Jake Rappaport held the Hawks scoreless and hitless in the third and fourth innings, including three strikeouts while Bryce Short entered in the eighth, pitching a scoreless and hitless inning.

Highlander catcher Franzoni finished 3-for-4, including a double while three different players – 3B David Marcano, 2B Brett Helmkamp and 1B Nick Hussey each recorded a hit.

NJIT will return to action this weekend when the Highlanders host Kennesaw State in ASUN Conference action on the campus of Rutgers University Bainton Field.  The series will begin on Friday at 2pm, Saturday at 12pm and conclude on Sunday at 12pm.