NJIT-UNA Split Friday's Twin Bill, Stafflinger Registers Shutout, Franzoni Posts 6 RBI in Game Two

NJIT split its ASUN Conference doubleheader with North Alabama Friday with the Lions earning an 8-1 victory in game one and the Highlanders, taking the nightcap, 10-0, behind a strong pitching performance from junior RHP Tyler Stafflinger and six runs batted in from sophomore Paul Franzoni at Mike D. Lane Field.

With the Friday split, NJIT moves to 6-14 in the ASUN, 15-24-1 overall while the Lions stand at 6-13 in the league and 13-33 overall.

In game two, NJIT's Stafflinger was brilliant on the mound, notching his second win of the season, pitching 8.0 innings, allowing just two hits, fanning a season-best eight Lion batters for the shutout victory.  Stafflinger retired the last 15 batters before handing off to freshman righty Joe Georgini, who pitched a perfect ninth inning, striking out one Lion batter.

Franzoni, who was named to the Buster Posey Catcher Award Watch List in April, led the Highlanders offensively, finishing 3-for-6 with career-best six RBI and three runs, including two home runs and a double.

With rain in the forecast for the Florence area on Saturday, the two teams will conclude its three-game series on Sunday at 10:30am (CT).  The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.

Game 2 | NJIT 10, UNA 0 (Final)
NJIT took its first lead of the series, 2-0, in the top of the fifth after a two-run blast to left field by Julio Marcano, his seventh of the season.

The visitors plated a single run in the top of the sixth on a solo shot to right field by C Paul Franzoni, his fifth of the season, extending the Highlander lead to 3-0.

Franzoni continued his hot-hitting in the top of the eighth with a one out two-run double, pushing the Highlander lead to 5-0.  Senior 3B Tom Brady connected with a two-run hit single, driving in a pair of runs in the inning, pushing the Highlander lead to 7-0.

The scoring continued for the Highlanders in the top of the ninth, coming from Franzoni, with his second home run of the game, this time a three-run blast to left field, giving NJIT a 10-0 lead.

DH David Marcano finished 2-for-5 while twin brother Julio Marcano finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs.  Sophomore 1B Nick Hussey went 2-for-4, including a double in the win.

Game 1 | UNA 8, NJIT 1 (Final)
RHP Hunter Davidson (3-3) pitched a nine-inning complete game, allowing just one Highlander run and letting up four hits while fanning seven batters.

North Alabama LF Tate Mathis finished 2-for-4 with four RBI, including a three-run blast in the bottom of the third, his second of the season.  RF Kevin Brenning led the Lion offense, finishing 4-for-5 with two runs while 3B Reid Homan drove in a pair of runs in the win, going 1-for-4.

NJIT starting pitcher Jared Kacso (1-5) took the loss for the visitors.  Senior LHP Chris Gibbons, who is coming off a career-long outing (6.1 innings) in the Highlanders 8-0 win at Fairfield, pitched 4.0 innings, allowing just two runs while striking out four Lion batters.  Freshman Hunter Harris pitched two scoreless innings for the Highlanders, allowing just two hits.

Senior SS Justin Etts drove in the only run of the game for NJIT, coming in the top of the seventh, finished 1-for-3.  Three different Highlanders -- DH David Marcano, LF Julio Marcano and 1B Nick Hussey each recorded a hit in the game.

North Alabama exploded for six runs in the bottom of the third with no outs, on a pair of two home runs, which accounted for four of the six runs and a two-run double for a 6-0 advantage.

The Lions added a single run in the bottom of the fourth and sixth extending its lead to 8-0.

NJIT senior co-captain Justin Etts plated the first run of the game for the Highlanders, a two-out single, in the top of the seventh, driving in Julio Marcano.