Struggling Albany, Saint John’s Set for Chilly Showdown in Queens

NEW YORK (Interstat) — Two teams searching for their first win in weeks will meet under the lights and likely in the rain Friday when the Albany Great Danes visit the Saint John’s Red Storm at Jack Kaiser Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. in a matchup of struggling squads. Albany (0-7) enters winless, while Saint John’s (1-10) has lost 10 straight since a season-opening victory.

The Interstat game simulator projects a low-scoring affair, favoring Saint John’s 2-1. The weather may support that prediction, with a game-time forecast of 41 degrees and rain.

Albany seeks to break a skid that includes a 14-6 home loss to Illinois on Sunday. Catcher Levi McAllister provided a bright spot in that defeat, hitting a two-run homer. He is batting .250 with four RBIs over his last six games and will be a key bat for the Great Danes’ offense.

The Red Storm are coming off a 12-2 road loss at Penn State on Wednesday. Reliever Evan Hoeckele was effective in that game, throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings. He has not allowed a hit in his last 2 1/3 innings out of the bullpen and could be a stabilizing force for a pitching staff that has struggled during the losing streak.

Both teams have faced tough early-season competition. Albany’s seven losses have come against Illinois, Michigan State, James Madison and Texas Tech. Saint John’s difficult stretch includes series at Kentucky and Arizona State, plus the midweek loss at Penn State.

The weekend series continues at Jack Kaiser Stadium with games on Saturday and Sunday.