HAMDEN, Conn. (Interstat) — The Rider Broncs and Quinnipiac Bobcats open a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference series Thursday afternoon at Quinnipiac Baseball Field, with the first pitch scheduled under a forecast of 59-degree rain.

Rider (24-16) enters after a 1-0, 10-inning loss at Niagara on Sunday, a game dominated by pitching. Right-hander Clayton Poliey threw six innings of no-hit ball with six strikeouts but did not factor in the decision. Poliey has been a stabilizing force on the mound despite some recent volatility; his last start was his best, following an outing April 29 in which he allowed one earned run over 3.1 innings against Stony Brook. In three of his past five appearances, he has not allowed an earned run.

Quinnipiac (22-23) rode strong pitching in its most recent result, a 5-4 home win over Fairfield on Sunday. Jacob Belecky earned the victory, allowing one earned run on two hits over five innings with five strikeouts. Belecky has been sharp in May, combining for one earned run and seven strikeouts across his last eight innings. Over his past three outings, he has not allowed more than two hits in any appearance.

The Bobcats had dropped four of their previous five games before Sunday’s win, including a 11-2 loss to Fairfield on May 2.

Thursday’s matchup features two teams trending in opposite directions in the MAAC standings. Rider has won three of its last five, while Quinnipiac has split its past four. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-6 Quinnipiac victory.

The teams meet again Friday for a doubleheader and close the series Monday, all at Quinnipiac. Rider visits Saint Peter’s next week, while Quinnipiac travels to Merrimack.