NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — Dillon Can’s three-run double capped a four-run first inning for NJIT, which never trailed after erasing an early four-run deficit to defeat Saint Peter’s 8-4 on Friday evening at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.

The Highlanders evened their season record at 5-5, while the Peacocks remained winless at 0-9.

The most important sequence of the game came immediately after Saint Peter’s had established a 4-0 lead before recording an out in the top of the first inning. The Peacocks loaded the bases on a hit batter and two walks, and all four runs scored on a combination of a wild pitch, a passed ball and two RBI groundouts. NJIT starter Tate Jones then settled in, retiring the next three batters to limit the damage.

NJIT responded forcefully in the bottom half against Saint Peter’s starter Kurt Thomas. After walks to Ty Sallie and Austin Francis and a single by Cole Campbell loaded the bases, Can cleared them with a double to deep left field, pulling the Highlanders within a run. Can later scored the tying run on a wild pitch.

Jones, named the top star for NJIT, delivered a crucial performance to steady his team. After the rocky start, he pitched six strong innings, allowing five hits and one earned run while striking out four. He retired 12 of the final 14 batters he faced.

The Highlanders took the lead for good in the fifth inning. Francis singled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Campbell’s RBI single. After a pitching change, Can drove in another run with his second double of the game, making it 6-4.

NJIT added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, an error and a sacrifice fly by Francis brought home an unearned run. In the seventh, Sheehan O’Connor delivered an RBI single.

Saint Peter’s mounted a threat in the seventh, scoring twice to cut the deficit to 7-6. RJ Azarieh, who finished 3 for 4, scored on a two-base error, and Luke Schwartz drove in another run with a single. The Peacocks had the tying run on third with one out, but reliever Anthony Anzaldi entered and struck out Aidan Forrest before a caught stealing ended the inning.

Anzaldi shut the door from there, pitching three scoreless innings of one-hit relief with four strikeouts to earn the save.

The loss extended a difficult start to the season for Saint Peter’s, which has been outscored 104-20 through nine games. The teams continue their three-game series on Saturday.