CHIBA — Yoshio Itoi and Tomohiro Nioka both played for Kinki University but never together on the same team.

No matter, now that they're finally teammates the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters pair is making up for lost time.

Itoi and Nioka hit back-to-back homers to help the Fighters race out to a four-run lead before the Pacific League leaders fended off a late rally to secure a 5-4 victory over the Marines on Saturday at Chiba Marine Stadium.