Northeastern (27-17) at Monmouth (24-18)

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. (Interstat) — The Northeastern Huskies and Monmouth Hawks meet Sunday afternoon at Monmouth Baseball Field in the rubber match of a three-game Colonial Athletic Association series, with first-place positioning on the line.

Northeastern took the series opener 13-10 on Friday before Monmouth answered with a shutout victory Saturday. Sunday’s forecast calls for 57-degree temperatures and cloudy skies.

The Huskies (27-17) enter having won four of their last five. Catcher Cooper Tarantino has been a key offensive catalyst. In Friday’s win over Monmouth, Tarantino went 2-for-2 with a home run and three RBIs. The junior has power but has been streaky, recording hits in three of his last four games after a 1-for-18 skid.

For Monmouth (24-18), second baseman Wyatt Hunt has been the most consistent threat. Hunt erupted Friday for a 3-for-5 performance with a home run and five RBIs. Over his last six games, he is batting .385 (10-for-26) with two homers and nine RBIs. He also went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in a 12-2 win over Rider on April 26.

Friday’s game featured 23 runs and 26 hits. Northeastern starter Andrew Wertz threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief, allowing no hits and striking out one. Left fielder Harrison Feinberg added a homer and three RBIs.

Monmouth’s bullpen struggled Friday, but reliever Stefan Swee tossed a scoreless inning, allowing one hit. Third baseman Simmi Whitehill drove in two runs for the Hawks.

The two teams split a four-game series in April, with Northeastern winning three of four at home. The Huskies have won four of the last six meetings.

Northeastern sits near the top of the Colonial standings with a strong resume, including a 15-5 win at North Carolina A&T on April 19. The Huskies have won six of their last eight road games.

Monmouth has dropped three of its last four after a five-game winning streak. The Hawks are 12-8 at home this season.

A 12-game conference schedule is winding down, and every game carries postseason implications. Interstat’s game simulator projects an 8-5 Northeastern victory.

First pitch is scheduled for early afternoon.