Box Score CARY, NC – Monmouth University Baseball (1-0) opened the 2020 campaign with a win on Friday over NJIT (0-1) in 12 innings. Monmouth pitching allowed just two earned runs while newcomer Jake Catalano drove in two runs in his first game as a Hawk.

After Paul Franzoni's double put NJIT in front in the fourth, Monmouth responded with a big fifth. JP Walsh drove in the first Hawks run of the season, and Catalano followed with a two-run double to give the Blue and White a 3-1 lead.

In his second straight season-opening start, Dan Klepchick fanned four in 5.2 innings. He left with the lead after NJIT cut it to two, and Ryan Steckline fanned six out of the bullpen. The Highlanders were able to get it even on Jack Hay's two-out single in the ninth, but consecutive singles put MU in business in the 12^th. A throwing error allowed the lead run to score, and Mason Miller () locked down the victory in the bottom half.

NOTES AND QUOTES
"A real gutsy win today.Great resiliency to show in our season opener. Klepchick, Steckline and Miller did a real nice job of continually giving us a chance. They really competed today. Klepchick pitched out of a jam in the fourth andZega made a great play that allowed us to get out only down 1-0. Jake Catalano was clutch in the following inning with his two-run double. It was a very good season opener against a very tough NJIT team." – Head Coach Dean Ehehalt

-Dan Klepchick started the season opener for the second year in a row.
-Monmouth is now 10-0 all time against NJIT.
-The Hawks win the opener for the first time since 2016 over Penn State.
-Jake Catalano made his MU debut in center field.
-Danny Long has started four straight openers at shortstop.
-Mason Miller earned his third career win.
-Steckline's six K's ties a career high (3/17/19 at George Mason).

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-MU had 11 hits to NJIT's nine.
-NJIT made two errors to MU's one.
-Tyler Cirone took the loss, while Mason Miller earned the win.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth is back in Cary tomorrow for a doubleheader vs. Bucknell.