VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton baseball (16-25, 12-12 America East) wraps up its 2022 home slate with an important series against a longtime rival when Stony Brook (24-22, 17-7 AE) comes to town for a weekend set. The teams will play at 6 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at Bearcats Baseball Stadium. It will be the final conference meeting between the two programs that have combined to win nine of the last 13 America East titles. 

With six regular season games remaining, BU is still jockeying for position in the six-team tournament field, but hasn't officially clinched a berth yet. The top seed is unattainable but at stake is the No. 2 seed, which carries a first-round bye. The Bearcats sit one game behind NJIT for that No. 2 spot. The Highlanders took two of three from BU last weekend, which snapped a stretch of four straight Bearcat series wins.

Freshman third baseman Devan Bade had a strong week last week, hitting .400 in four games. Senior shortstop Jake Evans (.337) also continued his production at the plate with four hits and three RBI in the NJIT series. Junior catcher/1B Connor Aoki also had four hits against the Highlanders. Freshman DH/C Evin Sullivan is hitting .311 with 18 extra-base hits and a team-best 28 RBI. 

Junior left-hander Thomas Babalis (3-4, 4.30 ERA) makes his 13th start of the season Friday night. He took a no-decision in BU's 4-3 extra-innings win last Saturday.  

The Seawolves are surging of late, having won six straight of their last seven. On Tuesday, the team's win streak was snapped in an 8-7 road loss at Sacred Heart. In conference play, Stony Brook swept three games from UMBC last weekend and won two of three against NJIT before that.

The team ranks sixth in hitting (.261), fifth in pitching (6.07) and third in fielding (.972).

Senior 3B Evan Giordano ranks fifth in the AE in on-base percentage (.435). Sophomore left fielder Matt Brown-Eiring has team-highs of eight home runs and 44 RBI. Senior right-hander Ben Fero (2-4, 5.30 ERA) is expected to start today.

Stony Brook leads the all-time series 61-41-1. Binghamton, however, took two of three on Long Island one month ago. 

Projected Weekend Matchups

Friday, May 13 - 6 p.m.
LHP Thomas Babalis (BU) (3-4, 4.30 ERA) vs. RHP Ben Fero (2-4, 5.30 ERA) | ESPN3 | Live Stats

Saturday, May 14 - 2 p.m.
RHP Gabe Driscoll (BU) (3-1, 4.88 ERA) vs. RHP Brandon Lashley (2-3, 4.79 ERA) | ESPN3 | Live Stats

Sunday, May 15 - 1 p.m.
RHP Ryan Bryggman (BU) (4-5, 5.21 ERA) vs. LHP Colton Book (4-2, 3.35 ERA) | ESPN3 | Live Stats