NEWARK, NJ--The NJIT baseball team (26-22) will play in the program's first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament when the Highlanders visit No. 1 Arkansas (46-10) in the Fayetteville Regional on Friday, June 4 at Baum-Walker Stadium. First pitch is slated for 3pm (ET) on ESPN3.
How to Watch?
Game time is slated for 3pm (ET) on Friday, June 4. The game will be streamed live on ESPN3 with in-game statistics available on www.NJITHighlanders.com.
A simple way to find ESPN3 is on NJIT's official athletics website, www.njithighlanders.com. Near the middle of the home page under the headlines section, an upcoming events calendar lists scheduled NJIT contests. After finding the event, click the camera icon to the left of the event listing. That brings you to an ESPN portal where you can access the desired program.
New Home for the Highlanders in 2020-21
The 2020-21 season featured NJIT's first season as a member of the America East Conference, who became the 10th full member of the America East effective July 1, 2020.
NJIT departed the ASUN Conference after five seasons as a member (first season 2015-16), which marked the first time that the Highlanders had been a full member of an automatic qualifying NCAA Division I multi-sport conference. Official Announcement
Highlander Hits
--26 wins program-best in the NJIT Division I era (first season Division I 2007)
--Current nine game winning streak (program record)
--Highlanders have won 18 of 22 games
--Earned the America East Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament
--First-ever appearance in NCAA Tournament (will face #1 Arkansas on June 4 in front of a crowd of 11,000+)
--First-ever America East postseason win for any NJIT team (5-4 win vs. Albany; May 27)
--Jake Rappaport (LHP; Closer): America East first-team; 8-2 (eight wins is a single season NJIT DI program-record); 10 saves (Tied for 15th in nation; NJIT DI program record)
--Albert Choi (CF): America East Rookie of the Year; America East First-Team, All-Rookie Team; Leadoff hitter, ranks in the top 10 in the nation in stolen bases (27-28); set NJIT single season stolen base record; Second on the team in RBIs (35).
--Julio Marcano (LF): America East First-Team; 11th player in program history 100+ career RBI; led America East in home runs (10) and RBIs (42)
Head Coach Robbie McClellan
In his third season at the helm of the Highlanders, McClellan joined the NJIT coaching staff as an assistant coach in 2011-12, filling that role for seven seasons until being named interim head coach in August 2018. In June 2019, McClellan was promoted to head coach.
McClellan, who pitched in the minor leagues for three seasons after being drafted in the 12th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft by the Kansas City Royals, made a quick transition into college coaching when his playing career ended prematurely due to injury.
He pitched two years at Seward County Community College in his native Kansas before moving on to the top Division I program at Arizona State, where his teammates included current major league stars Dustin Pedroia (2007 American League Rookie of the Year and 2008 AL Most Valuable Player for the Red Sox) and Andre Ethier (two-time National League All-Star for the Dodgers).
2021 NCAA Tournament
Sixty-four teams qualified for the 2021 NCAA Tournament and were broken up into four-team regionals at 16 different host sites.
NJIT, Nebraska, Northeastern and host Arkansas will play in the Fayetteville Regional and play a double-elimination tournament from Friday, June 4-Monday, June 7 to determine who will head to a super regional.
The two-team super regionals will be a three-game series spanning from Friday, June 11-Monday June 14, with the eight super regional winners advancing to Omaha, NE, for the College World Series in late June.
Stay Connected
Stay tuned to NJITHighlanders.com and follow NJIT baseball on Twitter and Instagram @NJTechBaseball and NJIT Baseball on Facebook all week for more leading up to first pitch on Friday.
