ALBANY, N.Y. (Interstat) — The NJIT Highlanders and Albany Great Danes will continue their America East series Saturday afternoon at Varsity Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. under clear skies with a temperature of 54 degrees.

NJIT (13-23) enters the game after a 7-5 loss to Albany on Friday. The Highlanders have dropped five of their last six games. Albany (11-21) has won two of its last three.

The pitching matchup features two arms who faced each other Friday. NJIT right-hander Tade Riorden is expected to start. Riorden threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in Friday’s loss, allowing no hits and striking out four. Over his last six outings, Riorden has a 6.75 ERA in 15 innings with 11 strikeouts. He has not allowed an earned run in three of those appearances.

Albany will counter with right-hander Matthew Mariano, who earned the win Friday. Mariano pitched five innings, allowing one earned run on five hits with three strikeouts. He has won three consecutive starts, posting a 1.93 ERA over 13 1/3 innings in that span. For the season, Mariano has a 3.38 ERA in 29 1/3 innings.

The Highlanders have struggled offensively, scoring three runs or fewer in four of their last five losses. Catcher Cole Campbell went 2-for-5 with two RBIs in Friday’s loss. NJIT’s schedule does not get easier; the Highlanders play at Albany again Sunday before hosting Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday.

Albany’s lineup is led by right fielder John Vitucci, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI on Friday. Designated hitter Tre Mariano added two hits and two RBIs.

The teams met last weekend in Newark, New Jersey, with Albany winning two of three. The Great Danes took the opener 10-5 on March 20 before NJIT won 5-4 in 10 innings on March 21. Albany won the rubber game 10-3 on March 22.

A computer simulation by Interstat projects a 5-4 NJIT victory.

After Saturday’s game, the series concludes Sunday. Albany then hosts Marist on Tuesday before traveling to Maryland-Baltimore County next weekend. NJIT returns home for a three-game series against Bryant starting May 1.