NEWARK, NJ - The NJIT baseball team is set to kick of its 2020 season this weekend, playing four games against three different teams at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary, NC.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday - vs. Monmouth at 2:30pm
Saturday - vs. Penn State (DH) at 12pm |
LIVE STATS
Sunday - vs. Bucknell at 10am
2019 Rewind
NJIT started last season with a 5-0-1 record en route to a 17-win season that included seven ASUN Conference victories. The Highlanders' season was highlighted by the program's second-ever victory over a BIG TEN opponent (Purdue) and a victory over Liberty, who went on to win the ASUN Tournament and win its first game at the NCAA Tournament.
Around the Diamond
The Highlanders return a great deal of position players from their 2019 team, including 2020 Preseason All-ASUN selection
Julio Marcano. Marcano's versatility will be used at multiple positions this season. He will primarily play in the infield alongside
Nick Hussey (1B), 2019 ASUN All-Freshman honoree
Brett Helmkamp (2B) and
David Marcano (SS).
Jared Donnelly will also see time throughout the infield.
Matthew Cocciadiferro returns to man the right field position and projects to be joined in the outfield by freshman
Albert Choi (CF) and
Andrew Elcock (LF).
Paul Franzoni caught all 45 games last season and will once again be relied on as the squad's primary catcher. Franzoni will be backed up by freshman
Luke Longo and both will also see time at DH when not playing behind the plate.Â
Jared Kacso,
Tyler Stafflinger and
Grant Vurpillat will be relied upon to lead a young pitching staff this season.Â
The Captains
Earlier this preseason,
Julio Marcano, Franzoni and Kacso were tabbed as captains for the 2020 NJIT baseball program.Â
Home Games
The Highlanders will play 12 home games this season, all coming in ASUN Conference play. NJIT will host North Florida and North Alabama for three games each at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ, and welcome Liberty and Stetson to Skylands Stadium in August, NJ, for three games each.
Meet the Coaching Staff
Robbie McClellan is back for his second season leading the Highlanders' baseball program following seven seasons as an assistant coach within the program. McClellan is a Kansas native who played collegiately at Arizona State before being drafted by the Kansas City Royals organization.
Giuseppe Papaccio and
Anthony Deleo return to assist McClellan for the second year in a row, while
Kyle Norman is in his first season on staff.
Video Previews
-Â
ESPN+'s Matt Provence caught up with McClellan to discuss the season ahead
- Cocciadiferoo and Franzoni explain why they are excited for the upcoming season
On Deck
Following this weekend's four games in North Carolina, the Highlanders will return to action on Friday, Feb. 21, to begin a three-game series at Longwood in Farmville, VA.
