Baseball

#AEBASE Week 8: NJIT Moves Into First

BOSTON – NJIT took over first place in the standings with an impressive sweep while the UMBC and Maine both captured two of three to move up the standings as we approach the mid-point of the season.
 
The Highlanders swept UAlbany at home, winning 3-1, 7-1 and 7-5 to grab a 2-game lead over Binghamton in the #AEBASE standings. The Bearcats, meanwhile, fell twice to UMBC who came alive to win 19-9 and 11-6 in the opening two contest. Binghamton rebounded to win the final 14-7. Maine took two from UMass Lowell to move into a tie for second in the standings.
 
All seven programs compete during the week once again, including UMass Lowell at Boston College and Bryant at UConn. Binghamton looks to move up in the standings when they host Binghamton for three contests, while UMass Lowell welcomes UMBC for three. Maine travels to UAlbany as the Black Bears seek to extend their win streak.
   
Fans will once again be able to watch the majority of the #AEWLAX this season. Select games will air on The AE on ESPN while others will air on AmericaEast.TV. Those games will be available on computers, OTT devices and the brand new America East app, which is available on all IOS and Android devices and can be found by searching ‘America East Conference’ in app stores.

Follow the @AmericaEast on X to stay up-to-date on America East baseball news all season long and use #AEBASE to join the conversation.
 
#AEBASE Weekly Award Winners – April 8

Player of the Week
Leewood Molessa, UMBC – So., First Base, Pullman, W.Va.
  • Hit .533 while slugging 1.400 last week with 11 RBI, including 6 hits, 6 runs, 9 RBI and four home runs in a three-game series against Binghamton.  
  • Went 2-for-5 and drove in UMBC’s first and last runs in a 5-2 midweek win over Maryland.
  • Tied an AE single-game record with three home runs and added six RBI in a 19-9 victory over Binghamton.
  • Hit another HR and had three more RBI and three hits in an 11-6 win vs the Bearcats.
  • This is Molessa’s first career #AEBASE Player of the Week honor.
 
Pitcher  of the Week
Nate DeSchryver, NJIT – Gr., Pitcher, Post Falls, Idaho
  • Tossed 5.0 innings of scoreless baseball while allowing just one hit with 11 strikeouts and four walks in a 3-1 win over UAlbany.
  • Secured his first win of the season in Friday’s start against UAlbany.
  • This is DeSchryver’s first career #AEBASE Pitcher of the Week honor.
 
Rookie of the Week
Sergio Droz, UMBC – Fr., Infielder, Millville, NJ
  • Batted .700 with five runs, one RBI and on the mound went 2.0 innings of scoreless baseball while helping UMBC to a 3-1 week.
  • Started against Maryland and went 2.0 innings without allowing a hit and striking out two batters as UMBC won 5-2.
  • Went 5-for-5 with four runs in a 19-9 win over Binghamton.
  • This is Droz’s first career #AEBASE Rookie of the Week honor.
 
2025 #AEBASE Weekly Award Winners
Feb. 18 – Player of the Week: Brandon Fish, UMass Lowell; Pitcher of the Week: Michael Belcher, Bryant; \ Rookie of the Week: Michael Belcher, Bryant
Feb. 25 – Player of the Week: Brandyn Durand, Bryant; Pitcher of the Week: Brady Bouchard, Binghamton; Rookie of the Week: Brady Bouchard, Binghamton
March 4 – Player of the Week: Sean O’Leary, UMass Lowell; Pitcher of the Week: MT Morrissey, NJIT; Rookie of the Week: Logan Morris, UAlbany
March 11 - Player of the Week: Gavin Noriega, Bryant; Pitcher of the Week: Caleb Leys, Maine; Rookie of the Week: Matt Bolton, Binghamton
March 18 - Player of the Week: Devan Bade, Binghamton; Pitcher of the Week: Nick Remy, UMBC; Rookie of the Week: Anthony Mascuilli, UMBC
March 24 - Player of the Week: Alex Luccini, UMass Lowell; Pitcher of the Week: Dylan Banner, UAlbany; Rookie of the Week: Anthony Mascuilli, UMBC
April 1 - Player of the Week: Myles Sargent, Maine; Pitcher of the Week: Brandon Peterson, NJIT; Rookie of the Week: Matt Bolton, Binghamton
April 8 - Player of the Week: Leewood Molessa, UMBC; Pitcher of the Week: Nate DeSchryver, NJIT; Rookie of the Week: Sergio Droz, UMBC
 
Fans will once again be able to watch the majority of the #AEBASE this season. Select games will air on The AE on ESPN while others will air on AmericaEast.TV. Those games will be available on computers, OTT devices and the brand new America East app, which is available on all IOS and Android devices and can be found by searching ‘America East Conference’ in app stores.

ABOUT AMERICA EAST
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference and its social media channels, @AmericaEast.

- America East Conference – Where Champions Rise -