1 min read NJIT

JERSEY BASEBALL SHOW - How NJIT became "Arkansas' Team"

For one glorious weekend, the NJIT Highlanders became Arkansas' adopted team, made some history, and came away with thousands of new friends
JERSEY BASEBALL SHOW - How NJIT became "Arkansas' Team"
Jared Kacso with Arkansas basketball coach Bill Musselman. All photo credits - njithighlanders.com

NJIT may not have been one of the teams that advanced to the Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament this weekend. That was going to be a longshot anyway going on the road to face the nation's No. 1 team, the Arkansas Razorbacks, and the incredible atmosphere at Baum-Walker Stadium.

But the Highlanders legitimately became one of the compelling stories in the Regional round, showed America they deserved their spot on the grand stage, and made a whole state full of friends in the process.

NJIT led Arkansas 3-0 in the third inning in one of those "Stop the game and take a picture of the scoreboard" moments. The Highlanders actually seemed ticketed for a bigger lead when Paul Franzoni's liner appeared headed for the gap and two more runs until a diving catch turned the momentum. Arkansas ended up working hard for a 13-8 win and the Razorbacks' faithful gained a newfound respect for the scrappy visitors from Newark.

Jared Kacso tells us the story of the weekend - the incredible Saturday that included his picture with Arkansas basketball coach Eric Musselman, the team's first-ever NCAA Tournament win over a strong Northeastern squad, partying in the "Hog Pen" and "Calling the Hogs" - two of the most fun traditions in college sports. Kacso just received his Master's degree (Financial Technology) and the Barnegat native will never forget his final weekend of college baseball.

He joins for a special Jersey Baseball Show to tell us his story. It's a great, fun interview and a reminder of all that college baseball can be!

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