Preview: Albany at NJIT in America East Baseball

NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — The Albany Great Danes and NJIT Highlanders will conclude a three-game America East conference series Sunday evening at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. under cloudy skies with temperatures around 54 degrees.

The series is tied after a split of the first two games. Albany (2-14, 1-1 America East) won 10-5 on Friday before NJIT (7-11, 1-1) answered with a 5-4, 10-inning walk-off victory Saturday.

A marquee pitching rematch is set for the rubber game. Albany’s Dylan Banner is expected to start after a hard-luck complete-game performance Saturday. The right-hander allowed two earned runs on four hits with seven strikeouts over nine innings in a no-decision. In four appearances this season, Banner has a 2.45 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings, but the Great Danes have lost all four games he has pitched.

NJIT will likely counter with left-hander Mark Scamardella, who was brilliant in relief Saturday. Scamardella tossed five scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out seven to earn the win. On the season, he is 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 19 innings.

The Highlanders’ offense was keyed Saturday by Austin Francis, who went 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Levi McAllister provided two hits and an RBI for Albany in the loss.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, NJIT is projected to win 4-2.

Both teams will continue conference play next weekend, with Albany hosting Maryland-Baltimore County and NJIT traveling to face Bryant.