Senior Day Photo GalleryÂ
2021 Senior Day Ceremony
UNION, NJ--NJIT swept Saturday's doubleheader from visiting UMBC for the second straight day, defeating the Retrievers 13-6 in game one before winning the nightcap 8-1 to complete the four-game series sweep at Jim Hynes Stadium in America East Conference baseball action.
With Saturday's wins, NJIT improves to 24-22 overall and 24-17 in the America East. The 24 wins are the most wins by a Highlander team since 2015 and the seven wins in a row is a new program-best.
UMBC concludes its season 17-26 overall and 12-26 in the America East.
Prior to the doubleheader, NJIT honored its graduating seniors in pregame ceremonies -- Kevin Blum, Matthew Cocciadiferro, Nicholas Trendler, Evan Gegeckas, Julio Marcano, David Marcano, Jake Rappaport, Paul Franzoni, Jared Kacso, Tyler Stafflinger and Nick Hussey.
Game One Recap | NJIT 13, UMBC 6
Visiting UMBC got things going early, scoring the first run of the game on a bases-loaded walk by Michael Cilio for a 1-0 lead.
NJIT quickly knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the first on an RBI groundout to second by DH Matthew Cocciadiferro.
The Retrievers regained the lead in the top of the second, scoring a pair of runs for a 3-1 advantage.
NJIT answered in the bottom of the second with a solo homer by Luke Longo, his sixth of the season and an RBI triple to center field by Albert Choi for a 3-3 game.
UMBC went ahead 4-3 on a sacrifice fly to center by Jack Ryan.
Cocciadiferro put the Highlanders ahead for the first time in the bottom of the third on a two-run home run to center field, his second of the season for a 5-4 lead.
The visitors answered again in the fourth, plating a pair of runs to take a 6-5 lead.
NJIT plated eight runs in the bottom of the sixth -- sparked by a three-run home run by Julio Marcano, which put the Highlanders ahead, 8-6. Hussey and Donnelly each doubled in the inning driving in a pair of Highlander runs for a 13-6 advantage.
Senior LHP Jake Rappaport, the Highlanders fourth pitcher in the game, was credited with the win, pitching 2.0 scoreless innings and striking out a pair of Retrievers. With the win, Rappaport moved to 7-2 on the season. The seven wins ties the single season wins record set by Ian Bentley in 2015.
Julio Marcano and Cocciadiferro went 1-for-3 with three RBI, including a home run while Jared Donnelly finished 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Game Two Recap | NJIT 8, UMBC 1
UMBC scored a run in the top of the second and held the Highlanders scoreless up until the bottom of the seventh. Senior Kevin Blum put the Highlanders on the board after a double down the right field line to tie the game at 1-1.
NJIT poured in seven runs on six hits in the bottom of the eighth to take an 8-1 lead. Senior Franzoni and Choi drove in two runs in the inning for the Highlanders. Choi, who reached base on a single up the middle, stole second, marking his 27th stolen base of the season, setting a new single season record for stolen bases.
Senior RHP Jared Kacso pitched 6.0 innings allowing four hits, one run while striking out a pair of Retrievers. Relief pitcher Alex DiBona pitched three scoreless innings to record his first victory of the season.
Choi finished 2-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored while Franzoni went 1-for-3 with three RBI.
On Deck
NJIT will make the program's first-ever appearance in the 2021 America East Baseball Tournament on Thursday, May 27 at 2:30pm when the Highlanders face Albany at Stony Brook, the host site for the 2021 America East Tournament.
