ATLANTA, GA - Opening day is now two weeks away, and with the 2019 season quickly approaching it's time to take a team-by-team look at all nine ASUN Conference Baseball squads starting play this spring. NJIT begins the preview countdown, after placing ninth in the ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Highlanders look to continue their upward trend after improving by 13 wins between 2017 and 2018, posting an overall record of 22-25 and appearing in the ASUN Championship for the first time.
NJIT collected nine conference victories in 2018, its best mark since joining the conference in 2016.
The schedule this season includes 12 home contests with road trips to face opponents in Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia to highlight the non-conference portion of play. NJIT opens home play by hosting Jacksonville on March 29.
Stolen bases were a key part of NJIT's offense in 2018, placing fourth in the ASUN with 49 swipes to just nine times being caught. The Highlanders also smacked 83 doubles on the season, fifth-most in the conference.
Sophomore Julio Marcano and senior Michael Anastasia combined for 25 of those doubles last season to place second and third on the team. Tyler Stafflinger returns to headline the rotation after posting a 2.87 ERA, the ninth-best mark in the ASUN, reduced to 2.60 in conference games.
Interim Head Coach Robbie McClellan has a core of young talent returning for his first season at the helm including three members of the 2018 All-Freshman Team. A veteran rotation leads the pitching staff with all three weekend starters returning and the Highlanders aiming at a second-straight trip to the conference tournament.
NJIT Team Quick Facts
2018 Record: 22-25 (9-12)
Best Single-Season Record All-Time in Division I: 2015; 24-23-1
ASUN Championships: None
ASUN Regular Season Titles: None
NCAA Division I Tournament Appearances: None
2019 Season Notes: NJIT returns all three weekend starters from last season in Sean Lubreski, Tyler Stafflinger and Jared Kacso. Infielder Julio Marcano was named to the ASUN Preseason All-Conference team after being a Freshman All-American last season. The Highlanders improved by 13 wins last season for their most wins since 2015.
Season Opener: vs. Eastern Michigan (Hoover, Ala.); 2/15/19 - 4pm
Home Opener: vs. Jacksonville; 3/29/19 - 2 PM
ASUN Opener: at Liberty; 3/22/19 - 6 PM
Coaching Staff
Interim Head Coach: Robbie McClellan
Career Record (Years): 0-0 (First Year)
NJIT Record (Years): Same
Staff: Giuseppe Papaccio, Anthony Deleo
Key Returners
- Julio Marcano, So., IF: Marcano led NJIT and ranked third in the ASUN with a .352 average en route to being named a Freshman All-American by Baseball America. A Preseason All-Conference selection, the Texas native also recorded 19 RBIs while slugging a pair of homers on the year.
- Michael Anastasia, Sr., OF: The senior outfielder returns after leading the Highlanders with three home runs as a junior, a career-high. Starting all 47 games for the team last season, Anastasia looks to return to form after being named a member of the 2017 All-Conference Second Team.
- Paul Franzoni, So., C: Franzoni enjoyed a debut campaign for the Highlanders in which he started 42 games behind the plate and was named to the ASUN All-Freshman team. Tied for the team lead in home runs with three while hitting .271 over the year. Raised his average to .296 in conference play while driving in nine runs.
Top Returning Pitchers
- Sean Lubreski, R-Sr., RHP: Sitting fourth all-time for NJIT with 14 career victories, Lubreski comes off a season in which he was one of three Highlanders to win four games. Registered a career-low 3.86 ERA on the season and took home victories vs. both Jacksonville and Stetson in conference play.
- Tyler Stafflinger, Jr., RHP: Enters junior season after recording career-highs in all major pitching categories. Ranked second on the team with a 2.87 ERA after 12 starts in 13 appearances on the year. Lowered his ERA to 2.60 in ASUN play, picking up one victory while striking out 19 batters.
- Jared Kacso, Jr., RHP: Comes off a sophomore campaign that included three victories, two in conference play vs. USC Upstate and North Florida. Sported a 4.57 ERA in 15 appearances, making 13 starts as part of the weekend rotation.
Impact Newcomer
- Grant Vurpillat, Fr., LHP: Vurpillat enters his first season at NJIT with the potential to fill a variety of roles for the Highlanders from the 'pen. A 6-1 lefty from California, Vurpillat guided his San Juan Hills High School team to the state playoffs in 2018 and was named to the All-Tournament Team Fall Classic for his performance.
