VIDEO:
Binghamton Rewind with Sophomore CF Albert Choi
UMBC Preview with Head Coach Robbie McClellan 

NEWARK, NJ - The NJIT baseball team wraps up its regular season this weekend with four home games against UMBC. The Highlanders control their own destiny for an America East Playoff spot.

Weekend Slate
The Highlanders and Retreivers will meet four times this weekend, with a pair of doubleheaders scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Jim Hynes Stadium, which is on the campus of Kean University in Union. First pitch of the seven-inning game one is scheduled for noon each day, with a nine-inning game two slated to begin 30 minutes after the completion of the opener. 

Watch Live
All four of this weekend's games will be broadcasted free of charge on AmericaEast.TV. Tune to AmericaEast.com/Watch on Saturday and Sunday as NJIT's Mike Ventola will bring you the action.

NJIT Projected Starting Pitchers
Game 1: Tyler Stafflinger
Game 2: Ryan Fischer
Game 3: Grant Vurpillat
Game 4: Jared Kacso

Last Time Out
NJIT won three of four from Binghamton last week to go two games ahead of the Bearcats in the America East's Division 'B' Standings. The Highlanders fell in game one, but bounced back to win the final three games.

America East Playoff Hunt
The America East split into two four-team divisions for 2021, with the top two teams in each qualifying for the America East Playoffs. Here are the standings for NJIT's division:

Stony Brook 31 22 9 0.71 NJIT 36 19 17 0.53 Binghamton 32 15 17 0.47 UMBC 34 12 22 0.35

Clinching Scenerios
NJIT controls its own destiny for a playoff berth and would clinch with three wins this weekend. Any combination of three NJIT wins and Binghamton losses would put the Highlanders in the postseason, as well. NJIT can clinch as early as after Game 1 on Friday if it beats UMBC and Binghamton falls to Stony Brook. 

Rookie of the Week
Cole Fleming was named the America East Rookie of the Week on Monday. 

Fleming was 5-for-10 (.500) in three starts last weekend vs. Binghamton. The Medford, NJ, native also scored four runs and knocked in three more.

He became the third Highlander to earn Rookie of the Week honors this season, joining classmates Aaron Park and Croix Jenkins.

Flashing Leather
While the Highlanders rank at the bottom of the America East in fielding percentage (.960), the squad has certainly picked up its defensive play recently. NJIT didn't make an error in its four-game series against Binghamton and takes a 41-inning errorless streak into this weekend's four-game set against UMBC.

NJIT Leaders
Hitting
AVG: Julio Marcano (.345)
SLG: Julio Marcano (.607)
OBP: Julio Marcano (.453)
HR: Julio Marcano (8)
RBI: Julio Marcano (36)
R: Albert Choi (37)
SB: Albert Choi 24

Pitching
IP: Ryan Fischer (61.1)
ERA: Jake Rappaport (2.43)
W: Jake Rappaport (6)
SV: Jake Rappaport (8)
K: Ryan Fischer (42)

Marcano's Feautured by News12 NJ
Earlier this season, Julio and David Marcano were featured on News12 New Jersey. To see the piece, click here.

Next Up
If the Highlanders qualify for the America East Playoffs, action will begin on Thursday at Stony Brook University. The Tournament will use a double-elimination format, with the winner getting the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.