LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Interstat) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference series between the Saint Peter’s Peacocks and the Rider Broncs opens Thursday afternoon at Sonny Pittaro Field.

Saint Peter’s (5-44) enters the game as the overwhelming underdog, having lost 10 of its last 11 contests. The Peacocks were most recently defeated 11-3 by Merrimack on Sunday, May 10, despite a home run and three RBIs from first baseman Bobby Lavely. Pitchers Jackson Thorne (3.2 IP, 1 ER) and Anthony Mancini (3.0 IP, 1 ER) also contributed.

Rider (26-17) is coming off a 5-2 victory at Quinnipiac on Friday, May 8. Pitcher Clayton Poliey threw a complete-game shutout – allowing one unearned run on no hits with two strikeouts – while first baseman Charley Magoulick and left fielder Kyle Neri each drove in two runs.

The Peacocks will look to infielder Ellis Reid, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI in the loss to Merrimack. Reid was 0-for-1 in a prior game against Niagara.

Rider’s pitcher Chris Montone has been effective in recent appearances. Over his last five outings spanning 8.2 innings, he has allowed three earned runs while striking out six. Montone threw four scoreless innings with four strikeouts in a 26-2 win at Niagara on May 2.

The weather forecast calls for 73 degrees and cloudy at first pitch.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the projected final score is Rider 7, Saint Peter’s 1, with the Broncs holding a 92.20 percent probability of victory.

The series continues with games Friday and Saturday, also at Sonny Pittaro Field.