NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (Interstat) — Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rivals will open a three-game series under chilly skies Friday when the Iona Gaels host the Marist Red Foxes at City Park.

First pitch is scheduled for the evening. The forecast calls for cloudy conditions and a temperature of 39 degrees.

Both teams enter with identical 5-win records, though Marist (5-14) has played more games and carries a five-game losing skid. The Red Foxes are coming off a 10-5 midweek loss at Fordham. Iona (5-9) snapped a three-game slide with a 5-3 home win over Long Island on Tuesday.

A key matchup could feature relievers Andrew Speranza of Marist and Iona’s Jackson Kossow. Speranza has been a frequent arm for the Red Foxes, making five appearances in the last three weeks. In his last outing at Fordham, he struck out four over three innings but allowed three earned runs. For the Gaels, Kossow earned the win against Long Island with two scoreless innings of relief. His season, however, has been inconsistent, including a tough outing at Fordham on March 10 where he surrendered six earned runs.

Marist’s recent struggles include a 16-1 loss at Fairleigh Dickinson on March 17. Their last win was a three-game sweep of Saint Peter’s from March 13-15. Iona took two of three from Merrimack last weekend before its midweek victory.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, Friday’s contest is projected to be a close one, with Marist edging Iona 5-4.

The series continues with afternoon games on Saturday and Sunday at City Park.