JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In a complete reversal of Friday's game, the Jacksonville University baseball team had to endure an offensive slugfest to take down the New Jersey Institute of Technology 11-10 on Saturday. The two teams combined for 21 runs and 29 hits in the three hour and 24 minute rollercoaster.
"It wasn't the cleanest or prettiest game by any stretch of the imagination, but bottom line at this time of the year you'll take any win how you can get it," said Head Coach Tim Montez. "Today was all about the seniors, up and down the lineup. They contributed a lot, and Jeff Tanner did a nice job coming off a heck of a pitching performance against Florida State. To give us two and a thirds innings just tells you a lot about this senior class as a whole. I couldn't be more proud of them."
Jacksonville (31-18) improves to 12-5 in Atlantic Sun play while NJIT (17-31) dropped its 14th straight conference game, slipping to 2-14 in the conference.
NJIT kicked things off in the top of the first with a home run, then JU responded in the bottom of the inning with an RBI double by Angel Camacho to score JJ Gould. After one inning it was 1-1.
The Highlanders continued their offensive output in the second inning, scoring two on an error and an RBI single. JU responded a second time with a run of its own, putting one across on a Parker Perez RBI single that scored Dakota Julylia. After two it was NJIT 3, JU 2.
NJIT's second homer of the game gave the Highlanders a 4-2 lead in the top of the third, but JU continued to fight back with a two RBI homer by Franco Guardascione, his fourth of the year. After three innings it was tied 4-4.
Things got a bit dire in the top of the fourth when NJIT scored three runs on a three-run homer after a Dolphin error put runners on first and second. Chris Gau came in to relieve Nathan Disch and shut down the next two batters to end the threat. Momentum swung back JU's way in the bottom of the inning, with Michael Babb scoring on a balk, Perez scoring on a single by Gould, and Austin Hays scoring on an RBI walk of Sam Armstrong. After four it was tied 7-7.
NJIT was held scoreless for the first time in the fifth inning, and JU was able to take the lead for the first time with a homer by Babb, just the second of his career. After five Jacksonville led 8-7.
The Highlanders tied the game for the fourth time in the sixth inning, scoring one run on a double, a single, and a single. But Jacksonville clawed back into the lead in the bottom of the sixth with a sac fly from Perez that scored Julylia. After six it was Jacksonville 9, NJIT 8.
NJIT refused to go down quietly, taking the lead back on a two-RBI single after the Dolphins collected their fifth error of the game. But Gould wouldn't let the Highlanders enjoy that lead for long, hitting a leadoff homer to tie the game at 10-10, which is where it would stay until the bottom of the ninth.
In the final frame JU got Gould on board with a one out double, then Camacho was walked, then both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Guardascione came up with two outs, and took two balls before singling to left field to drive Gould across for the walk-off win.
JU will go for the sweep of NJIT Sunday at noon, and will also try to keep within a game of first-place Kennesaw State (25-25, 13-4 A-Sun) with just four games left before the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship held May 25-28 in Nashville, Tenn.
"We need to enjoy this for 12 hours and finish the weekend," said Montez.
