JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University baseball erased an early deficit and rolled to a series opening win over NJIT on Friday night.
Angel Camacho drove in four and Chris Gau pitched seven strong to lead the #25 Dolphins (28-13, 7-3) to a 10-2 victory over the Highlanders (17-17, 4-9), a seventh straight win for JU.
"Offensively, these guys did a great job the entire night of stacking quality at bat after quality at bat," said Head Coach Chris Hayes. "Even though we only gave up two, the offense allowed us to take control of this game tonight."
A two-run third inning proved to be the difference, when JU put the leadoff men on and they 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.
Gau (6-2) surrendered six hits and two runs in the first two innings, before finding his groove. He only allowed three hits and no runs over the last five innings to throw seven strong innings for a ninth straight outing.
"Gau did a great job today of competing without his best stuff," said Hayes. "Once he got through the first couple of innings and figured out what he had today, he did a really good job."
"Credit to Franco Guardascione for working with him and getting him through a tough start to this game."
"It took some time to find out what he had, and the latter part of the game he was dominant," said Guardascione. "My job there is to work through, and be there for him."
The best chance at a rally for NJIT was snuffed out in the fourth, when the leadoff two men reached, but Guardascione picked the lead runner off second and caught the second man stealing.
"I was fortunate enough to see him get too far off after the missed bunt and made a good throw to get the out and the next guy went and we got two outs right away," said Gaurdascione. "That really helped Gau settle in too."
"Franco was the star tonight defensively and offensively," said Hayes.
JU tacked on four more in the fourth to make it 7-2 with a two-out rally. Duncan Hunter singled, back-to-back walks to Someillan and Lehane loaded the bases and Dubrule drove in two with a single before Camacho brought in two more with a single of his own.
Gaurdascione hit a three-run home run to add insurance in the seventh.
"No matter what the score is, you're always trying to put together good at bats," said Guardascione. "I saw a pitch, 2-0 count, and it felt good."
With the win, JU keeps pace with Stetson for second in the ASUN Conference. Both teams trail Kennesaw State, who is a league best 10-3.
Jacksonville goes for the series win tomorrow at 7 p.m. Tyler Santana takes the mound for the Dolphins, who are in search of a 10th weekend series win, and a ninth in a row.
