NEWARK, NJ--NJIT (11-10, 1-2 ASUN) will return to ASUN Conference action at #22 FGCU (22-6, 0-0 ASUN), beginning on Friday with first pitch slated for 6:30pm, Saturday at 2pm and concluding the three-game series on Sunday at 12Noon.

All-Time Series
FGCU is 6-0 against NJIT all-time with sweeps both at home and on the road over the previous two seasons.

Pitching Matchups | Live Stats
Friday: RHP Jared Kacso (1-2, 3.12 ERA) vs. RHP Mario Leon (4-1, 2.40 ERA)  | Live Stats Game 1
Saturday: RHP Sean Lubreski (2-1, 3.73 ERA) vs. LHP Josh Dye (5-1, 2.22 ERA) | Live Stats Game 2
Sunday: RHP Tyler Stafflinger (3-2, 2.05 ERA) vs. TBA | Live Stats Game 3

Eagles Nationally Ranked
FGCU moved to #22 in the Collegiate Baseball Top 30 poll, its highest ranking of the season. The Eagles are six spots below Stetson but in front of Missouri, Auburn, and North Carolina.

In addition, FGCU jumped 25 spots in the latest RPI and now sit #36. ASUN Conference opponents Stetson fell to #31 while Jacksonville enters the week #56.

Scouting the Highlanders
NJIT picked up it's first-ever win vs. Lipscomb last week when the Highlanders won 4-3 in extra innings. NJIT has now won five games against ASUN competition since joining the ASUN in 2015-16.

Senior Jesse Uttendorfer has been on fire at the plate for the Highlanders and has five multi-hit games in his last nine, while his .354 batting average sits sixth in the ASUN this season.

Newcomer David Marcano continues to be the top hitter in the ASUN as he is batting .384 on the year. The freshman leads all ASUN rookies in OBP as well at .451 and blasted a three-run home run at Lipscomb last weekend for his first collegiate homer.

Four NJIT pitchers have struck out 15 or more batters this season, paced by Stafflinger with 21 in 31.1 innings pitched. His 2.59 ERA is the lowest among NJIT starters.

Highlander duo Michael Anastasia and Uttendorfer are tied for the team lead in the RBI category with 12. Marcano and Evan Pietronico are right behind with 11 entering this weekend's series at FGCU.

Senior Johnny Malatesta earned his first win of the season in the 4-3 extra-inning affair at Lipscomb. The righty has three saves on the season for NJIT and owns a 9.42 K/9 ratio.

Scouting the Eagles
FGCU had a season-best nine-game winning streak snapped at No. 1 Florida in midweek action. The Eagles host NJIT for their first conference season of the year, after winning the ASUN Championship in 2017.

The offense continues to be one of the best in the nation as FGCU ranks 14th in the country with 222 runs scored. They are 10th in scoring at 7.9 runs per game & 21st in slugging percentage at .463 this week.

Richie Garcia has been one of the most dangerous hitters in the ASUN, leading the league with 35 RBI, while his .379 batting average ranks second in the ASUN, best among league sophomores.

Kohl Gilmore has provided most of the power in the FGCU lineup as he is tied for the ASUN lead with eight homers. His .648 slugging percentage comes in second this week in the conference. 

FGCU's pitching staff has posted a 3.84 ERA so far this season, third-best in the ASUN. Mario Leon, Josh Dye, and Even Lumbert have all pitched over 40.0 innings and boast sub-2.50 ERA's on the season.