VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton baseball (5-18, 2-7 America East) returns to league play with a three-game set against visiting Hartford (3-18, 2-7 AE) this weekend. The teams will play at 3 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. at the Bearcats Baseball Stadium. 

Binghamton is coming off a 7-3 non-conference loss at St. Bonaventure on Tuesday. For the season, BU is hitting .246 and has a pitching ERA of 7.03.

Freshman DH Evin Sullivan leads the team with a .387 average — tops among all America East freshmen. Junior outfielder Cavan Tully has a .432 on-base percentage, which ranks 10th in the conference. Junior catcher/1B Connor Aoki leads the team in home runs (5) and RBI (16).
 
On the hill, junior Thomas Babalis (2-4, 5.21 ERA) will pitch Friday's opener. On Saturday, sophomore Gabe Driscoll (0-0, 6.23 ERA) will make his third start of the season. Then junior Ryan Bryggman (2-3, 5.34 ERA) will pitch Sunday's finale.
 
Hartford is working its way through its final season as a member of the America East. The school announced last May it would begin transitioning down to NCAA Division III.
 
The Hawks began 2022 conference play by winning one of three against both NJIT and Stony Brook and dropping three to UMBC. In its most recent outing, Hartford defeated Sacred Heart 6-3 on Tuesday. Hartford is hitting .235 and has a 7.86 pitching ERA. Junior first baseman Derek Tenney ranks seventh in the conference with a .346 average. Junior shortstop Tremayne Cobb, Jr. leads the team with 17 RBI. The Hawks weekend starters are expected to be graduate right-hander James Judenis (1-3, 8.27 ERA), senior righty Tim Blaisdell (0-5, 9.13 ERA) and then junior Will Nowak (0-2, 4.37 ERA).  
 
Binghamton leads the all-time series 54-19 and has won 15 of the last 21 head-to-head. The Hawks, however, took three of four last season in West Hartford. At home, BU is 29-2 all-time against Hartford.

Projected Weekend Matchups
Friday, April 8 - 3 p.m. 
LHP Thomas Babalis (BU) (2-4, 5.21 ERA) vs. RHP James Judenis (1-3, 8.27 ERA) | ESPN3 | Live Stats

Saturday, April 9 - 2 p.m. 
RHP Gabe Driscoll (BU) (0-0, 6.23 ERA) vs. RHP Tim Blaisdell (0-5, 9.13 ERA) | ESPN3 | Live Stats

Sunday, April 10 - 1 p.m.
RHP Ryan Bryggman (BU) (2-3, 5.34 ERA) vs. RHP Will Nowak (0-2, 4.37 ERA) | ESPN3 | Live Stats