NJIT Completes Series Sweep of UMBC on Senior Day, Highlanders Have Won Seven Straight

Senior Day Photo Gallery 

2021 Senior Day Ceremony

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 2:30 p.m. when the Highlanders face Albany at Stony Brook, the host site for the 2021 America East Tournament.