VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton baseball (7-15, 3-0 AE) brings an undefeated America East mark into its weekend series with longtime SUNY rival Albany (8-13, 1-2 AE) when the teams begin with a 3 p.m. game Friday at Varsity Field. The series was moved up a day to try and work around Sunday's poor forecast. After Friday's single game, the teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader beginning at noon on Saturday. 

The Bearcats had their four-game win streak snapped in a 5-2 loss at Penn State on Wednesday but have still won five of their last seven games.

Junior first baseman Brendan Skidmore went 2-for-3 with an RBI at Penn State and has six RBI in his last four games. He leads the team with 11 extra-base hits. Senior second baseman Reed Gamache had a 10-game hit streak earlier in the season and leads BU with 17 RBI. Sophomore center fielder CJ Krowiak scored both runs against Penn State and ranks 60th in the country in toughest to strike out (6 Ks in 92 AB). Sophomore catcher Jason Agresti leads the America East with nine doubles. 

Junior Jake Cryts (1-3, 5.40 ERA) gets the start in Friday's opener and is coming off a dominant showing at Maine last Saturday. He went 7.0 scoreless and allowed three hits with seven strikeouts.

The Great Danes have dropped three of their last four after winning three of their previous four. In their last outing on Wednesday, Albany dropped a 9-3 home game to Fordham. The team opened conference play by losing two of three to Hartford on the road.

Albany returned five starting position players and three starting pitchers from a 14-win squad of a year ago that placed sixth in the America East. The team's lone returning all-conference player is junior right-hander Stephen Woods, an MLB draft pick out of high school who will pitch on Saturday. Freshman shortstop Kevin Donati leads the team with a .339 average and seven stolen bases. Junior first baseman Matt Hinchy is batting .338 with a team-best 18 RBI.

The Great Danes are hitting .233 and have a staff ERA of 4.95.

Redshirt freshman Angelo Spedafino (0-0, 7.45 ERA) is scheduled to start Friday.

The all-time series between the two teams dates back to 1950 with Albany leading 59-45. Since both teams entered the America East (2002), however, BU leads 33-28. Albany won two of three last year.