VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton baseball arrived in Albuquerque Thursday night and will open its 2017 season Friday night against a University of New Mexico team that is receiving votes in the national polls. The teams each open their seasons with a three-game set starting at 8 p.m. (ET) at Santa Ana Star Field.

The Bearcats will send senior right-hander Jake Cryts to the hill on Friday and then follow with junior righty Jacob Wloczewski on Saturday and junior left-hander Nick Wegmann on Sunday. 

Binghamton returns seven position starters and six all-conference selections from a 2016 team that captured both the America East regular season and tournament titles. The Bearcats then played at the NCAA Regionals for the fourth time in the last eight seasons. 

New Mexico is the favorite to win the Mountain West Conference and the Lobos are "receiving votes" in the USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll. Last season, UNM (39-23) advanced to the NCAA Regionals (fifth time in last seven years) and defeated No. 17 Dallas Baptist before being eliminated with two narrow losses. The Lobos were ranked in the nation's top-10 in on-base percentage and slugging and return conference player of the year Luis Gonzalez (center fielder and pitcher) and All-American third baseman Carl Stajduhar among six returning starters in the field.

The Lobos own a home win percentage of 72% in the last four years, including a 19-8 mark last season.

The teams last played in 2011, when host UNM won 16-2 and 5-4. The Lobos won four games against BU in 2009 and hold a 6-0 lead in the all-time series. They also are undefeated against teams from the America East (15-0).

Pitching Matchups
Friday at 8 p.m. (ET) - RHP Jake Cryts (BU) vs. RHP Tyler Stevens (UNM)    
Saturday at 4 p.m. (ET) - RHP Jacob Wloczewski (BU) vs. LHP Carson Schneider (UNM)
Sunday at 3 p.m. (ET) - LHP Nick Wegmann (BU) vs. LHP Luis Gonzalez (UNM)