PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers baseball and head coach Steve Owens welcome Sam Bello and Jared Kollar to the program. The two transfers will join the Scarlet Knights this fall in preparation for the 2022 season.

Photo Credits
Bello: Maryland Athletics
Kollar: Scott Abbott & Andy Mead

 
Sam Bello
RHP | 6-3 | 215 | R/R
West Nyack, N.Y./Iona Preparatory/University of Maryland
 
Why Rutgers? "Rutgers University will allow me to do what I love most, which is to play baseball, but also assist in my pursuit of a criminal justice degree. I believe playing for Rutgers will help me to build upon the necessary skillset for achieving my major life goals."
 
Owens Quote: "Sam is a very hard-working and talented player who has a plan in place to achieve his goals in baseball. We are pleased with his addition to our pitching staff and committed to helping him continue to improve. He has been extremely successful both in high school and in college, and has excelled in tough situations. In addition to his value on the field, Sam is well liked and respected by all who coach him and play with him. He will be a large contributor to what we are trying to build."
 
Career: Appeared in 20 games in relief … holds a 3.03 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 29.2 innings … allowed only 20 hits with a .190 batting average against … has eight saves.
 
2021 (Sophomore at Maryland): Made 16 appearances out of the bullpen as Maryland's closer … led the team and ranked fourth in the Big Ten with seven saves … ranked second on the team in batting average against (.217) … allowed only 18 hits in 23 innings with 15 strikeouts … posted a 3.52 ERA … threw a pair of innings in the NCAA Tournament at No. 12 East Carolina (6/6) … tossed 1.2 innings of one-hit relief against Indiana (5/30) … used three pitches to retire the Minnesota side in order and earn the save (5/2) … notched a season-high 3.2-inning save against No. 25 Michigan … tossed a perfect frame and earned the save against Northwestern (4/2) … earned first save of the season at Penn State (3/20) … threw a scoreless frame against Rutgers (3/12) … tossed two innings allowing just two hits in his season debut against Michigan State (3/6).
 
2020 (Freshman at Maryland): Appeared in four games during pandemic-shortened season … led the team with a .091 batting average against with only two hits allowed in 6.2 innings … struck out 11 compared to two walks … fanned the only batter faced versus James Madison (3/11) … tossed a perfect inning of relief against Bryant (3/8) ... earned the save in collegiate debut with 3.2 innings of one-hit ball and seven strikeouts versus Charleston Southern (2/14).
 
Prior to College: Attended Iona Prep in New Rochelle, New York ... named 2019 Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) Player of The Year, CHSAA All League First Team and Lohud Sports First Team during high school career ... complied an 8-2 record on the mound in 51.1 IP with 98 strikeouts, five walks and a 0.81 ERA ... helped lead the Gaels to a state semifinal appearance … also played football in high school.
 
Personal: Son of Bonnie and Robert Bello … has two older sisters, Alex and Christa … plans to study criminal justice.
 

Jared Kollar
RHP | 6-1 | 195 | R/R
Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe High School/Seton Hill University
 
Why Rutgers? "Rutgers was the best fit for me once I entered the transfer portal. The coaches at Rutgers were very interested and constantly talking to me, just about every day for two weeks. Rutgers also has a very prestigious engineering program. All of which made this my final decision."
 
Owens Quote: "Jared is a very experienced and successful pitcher who helped lead his team to the World Series. He logs innings, strike guys out and wins games. He has a great feel for pitching and a plus breaking ball. We are confident he will be a great fit on our team and will continue his success on the mound in the Big Ten while enjoying his final season of collegiate baseball."
 
Career: Appeared in 36 games with 31 starts on the mound … worked to a 3.05 ERA … has logged 168 innings with 222 strikeouts … holds a 17-7 record.
 
2021 (Senior at Seton Hill): Appeared in nine games with eight starts … worked a 1.19 ERA with a 0.80 WHIP … recorded a 5-0 record with one save … logged 37.2 innings with 21 hits allowed for a .157 batting against … notched 59 strikeouts compared to nine walks … had five starts with eight strikeouts and seven without permitting an earned run … struck out six in four innings versus South New Hampshire at the Division II World Series (6/6) … earned the save against Millersville with 1.2 scoreless innings to seal the NCAA Atlantic Regional title … earned the win in the regional opener versus Bloomsburg by striking out eight in six scoreless innings with no walks … beat Gannon (5/12) with only two hits allowed and eight strikeouts in six shutout frames … punched out eight with just one hit permitted in four scoreless innings against Slippery Rock (4/27) … had eight strikeouts in five scoreless frames versus Salem (3/13) … worked four shutout innings with seven strikeouts in season-debut victory over Shippensburg (3/6).
 
2020 (Junior at Seton Hill): Appeared in and started four contests … finished the season with a 3-0 record and a 0.39 ERA … worked 23 innings while giving up just one run on 19 hits … struck out 31 hitters while only walking five ... opponents hit .216 against ... started the season with 19 scoreless innings … struck out 10 in starts versus Walsh (2/23) and at Coker (2/15) … PSAC West Pitcher of the Week Award winner (2/24).
 
2019 (Sophomore at Seton Hill): Appeared in 12 games with nine starts … ended the season with a 5-3 record and a 4.07 ERA … worked 59.2 innings with 72 strikeouts … opponents hit just .241 against … struck out a season-high 11 at Pitt-Johnstown (4/27) … worked a seven-inning complete game to beat CalU (4/20) … fanned 10 in five innings versus Clarion (3/23).
 
2018 (Freshman at Seton Hill): Appeared in 11 games with 10 starts … threw 47.2 innings with 60 strikeouts … worked a season-best seven innings with one run permitted to beat Shippensburg (5/12) … fanned nine in 5.1 innings at Pitt-Johnstown (4/20) … notched seven strikeouts in five innings in collegiate debut versus West Liberty (2/25).
 
Prior to College: A four-year letterwinner in baseball at Greater Latrobe … a four-time first-team all-section pick … the winning pitcher in both WPIAL and PIAA State championships games as a senior … posted 103 strikeouts in 67 innings during senior season … named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Terrific Ten … 2017 Diamond Studs … selected AAABA All Star at third base in 2017 …also lettered in basketball and football in high school.
 
Personal: Son of Elaina and Jeff Kollar … has an older sister, Rachael … pursuing master's degree in mechanical engineering.
 
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