VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton baseball renews acquaintances with one of its oldest rivals when the Bearcats (11-10, 2-1 America East) play a three-game conference series at UAlbany (8-11, 2-1 AE) Friday and Saturday at Varsity Field. It's the second (of eight) America East series' for both programs. 

Binghamton has won seven of its last nine and opened conference play by taking two of three from Maine last weekend. The Bearcats rank second in the America East in hitting (.276), fourth in pitching ERA (6.23) and first in fielding (.982). 

Senior third baseman Devan Bade is one of several Bearcats on a tear at the plate. In his last eight games, Bade is hitting .519 with 11 RBI. Freshman center fielder Matt Bolton is batting .407 with 11 RBI in his last 12 games. Freshman right fielder Sam Miller is hitting .308 in his last 12 games and junior shortstop Mike Stellrecht is hitting .357 with five RBI in his last five games. Senior DH/catcher Evin Sullivan is hitting .390 with nine RBI in his last 11 games. Senior catcher/DH Zach Rogacki is seventh in the conference with a team-leading .356 average. 

The Bearcats will be forced to adjust their pitching rotation again after another injury to a top-line starter. Not even halfway through the season, Binghamton has lost two of its weekend starters to injury. Graduate Ryan Packard and sophomore Hayden Tarsia are slated to pitch the Friday doubleheader and Saturday's starter is still to be determined. 

UAlbany is coming off an impressive opening weekend in Rhode Island. The Great Danes took two of three from reigning conference champion Bryant, thanks to an average of 10 runs per game. In their last outing on Wednesday, UAlbany lost 6-3 at UMass. The team is hitting .264 (5th in AE), has an 8.53 pitching ERA (7th) and a .974 fielding percentage (2nd).  

Since both programs elevated to NCAA Division I and joined the America East in 2002, Binghamton holds a 52-40 head-to-head edge. The Bearcats have won five straight in the series, after UAlbany took seven of the previous nine. The series began in 1950 and the Great Danes hold a 65-61 edge all-time. 

UHS Sports Medicine is the presenting sponsor of Bearcats' baseball.

Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday, March 28 - noon (DH)
Game 1 (7 inn.): RHP Ryan Packard (1-1, 5.67 ERA) vs. RHP Dylan Banner (3-0, 3.06 ERA) | Video | Live Stats
Game 2 (9 inn.): RHP Hayden Tarsia (2-1, 4.58 ERA) vs. RHP Tyler Kneller (1-1, 3.94 ERA) | Video | Live Stats

Saturday, March 29 - 1 p.m.
TBA vs. TBA | Video | Live Stats