AUGUSTA, NJ—Junior RF Matthew Cocciadiferro drove in a game-leading four runs to pace NJIT in the Highlanders 8-4 win over visiting Florida Gulf Coast Friday afternoon in ASUN Conference action at Skylands Stadium.

NJIT, winners of the last three out of four games, improves to 17-25-1 overall, 7-15 in the ASUN while FGCU, which sits in first with Liberty in the ASUN standings, moves to 30-18 overall, 12-6 in the league.

The two teams will wrap up its three-game series on Saturday with an 11am doubleheader.  NJIT will honor its seven graduating seniors – Justin Etts, James Sofield, Michael Anastasia, Sean Lubreski, Edgar Badaraco, Tom Brady and Chris Gibbons in-between games on Saturday.

Cocciadiferro finished 1-for-4 while Etts, who drove in a pair of runs in the win, went 2-for-4, including a double. 

Sophomore LF Julio Marcano finished 3-for-3 with two walks while twin brother David Marcano went 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored.

Junior starting pitcher Jared Kacso notched his second win of the year, pitching 6.2 innings, striking out three Eagle batters while LHP Jake Rappaport picked up his first career save, holding FGCU scoreless in the final 2.1 innings, allowing just one hit.

NJIT jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a bases clearing double to left field by Cocciadiferro, his 10^th of the season.  DH David Marcano led off the inning with a single through the left side followed by a pair of walks by FGCU starting pitcher Mason Studstill, setting up Cocciadiferro's bases-clearing double.

FGCU plated a single run in the top of the second on an RBI single to right field by DH Joe Kinker.

NJIT added a run on an RBI single to left field by C Paul Franzoni in the bottom of the third, scoring Julio Marcano, who led off the inning with a single up the middle, giving NJIT a 4-1 advantage.

With bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth, Cocciadiferro drove in his fourth RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to right field and Etts followed with a two-run double to right, driving in a pair of runs, extending the Highlander lead, 7-1.

FGCU rallied in the top of the fifth, pushing across three runs on four hits on one Highlander error, cutting the deficit to three, 7-4.

NJIT sophomore 1B Nick Hussey led off the bottom of the fifth with a double to left center, moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt by 3B Jared Donnelly and scored on a safety squeeze bunt by Michael Anastasia for a 8-4 lead.