ERIE, Pa. (Interstat) — The Central Connecticut Blue Devils and Mercyhurst Lakers meet Saturday in a Northeast Conference doubleheader at Mercyhurst Athletic Center, with first pitch set for the afternoon and a second game to follow in the evening. Clear skies and a temperature of 53 degrees are forecast.

Central Connecticut (16-23) enters on a two-game winning streak after a 5-1 victory over Mercyhurst on Friday. The Blue Devils also topped Sacred Heart 13-1 on Tuesday. Mercyhurst (13-28) has lost four straight, including Friday’s home defeat.

Friday’s star was Central Connecticut pitcher Kyle Salvati, who tossed a complete-game one-hitter with 11 strikeouts and one earned run. Salvati has been inconsistent, allowing eight earned runs in 5 2/3 innings in a loss to Fairleigh Dickinson on May 1, but also throwing 7 1/3 innings with four earned runs in a win over Delaware State on April 17. He will be a key arm for the Blue Devils, though his exact role Saturday is unclear after his lengthy outing Friday.

For Mercyhurst, pitcher Matthew Delvaux is a player to watch. He took a tough-luck loss Friday, allowing three earned runs on six hits over six innings with two strikeouts. Delvaux has been erratic: he threw seven shutout innings with six strikeouts in a win over Maryland-Eastern Shore on April 17, but was roughed up for nine earned runs in 3 2/3 innings against Fairleigh Dickinson on April 24. He also allowed two earned runs in five innings against Long Island on May 1.

The Blue Devils’ offense was led Friday by first baseman Matt Graziose, who went 3 for 4 with two home runs and three RBIs. Outfielder Antonio Ducatelli added an RBI.

Mercuryhurst’s Zachary Kourous hit a solo home run in the loss. Shortstop Anthony Krause pitched two innings of relief Friday, allowing one earned run.

The teams conclude the three-game series Sunday. Central Connecticut then returns home to host Le Moyne for three games starting May 14. Mercyhurst travels to Niagara on Tuesday before a three-game series at Wagner on May 14-16.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 4-3 Central Connecticut victory for the opener. The same system gives the Blue Devils a 53.4% chance to win based on its ELO ratings.