CARY, NC - The NJIT baseball team rallied from a 3-1 deficit in its first game of the season, before ultimately falling 4-3 to Monmouth in 12 innings on Friday afternoon at the USA Baseball Complex.

NJIT (0-1) opened the scoring when junior catcher Paul Franzoni hit an RBI double to score sophomore Brett Helmkamp.

Monmouth (1-0) scored the game's next three runs, but a home run from junior Julio Marcano in the bottom of the sixth cut the Hawks' lead in half.

The Highlanders tied the game in the bottom of the ninth on freshman Jack Hay's first-career hit and RBI.

NJIT and Monmouth played a pair of scoreless extra innings before the Hawks were able to go ahead in the top of the 12th and hold on for the Opening Day victory. The game-winning run was unearned as it scored with two outs on the Highlanders' second error of the game.

Senior Tyler Stafflinger started on the mound for the Highlanders and struck out five Monmouth hitters in five innings of work, while scattering four hits and one walk. Stafflinger was relieved by freshman Parker O'Neil, who was very impressive in his collegiate debut, tossing three shutout innings and striking out three. O'Neil allowed just two baserunners.

Another NJIT freshman who had an impressive collegiate debut was centerfielder Albert Choi, who was 4-for-5 with a double and also stole a pair of bases. Marcano joined Choi with multi-hit games, recording three hits of his own on the afternoon.

The Highlanders return to the diamond on Saturday when they take on Penn State in a doubleheader back at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12pm.