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NEW HAMBURG, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Wagner Seahawks look to continue their push above .500 when they host the Mercyhurst Lakers on Thursday afternoon at Heritage Financial Park.

Wagner (25-22) enters the Northeast Conference matchup on a three-game winning streak after sweeping Coppin State, although the series finale required a 12-11 victory Sunday. The Seahawks have won five of their last six overall. Mercyhurst (14-30) has lost four straight and 10 of its last 11, most recently falling 7-5 at Niagara on Tuesday.

Thursday’s forecast calls for 69 degrees and rain, which could impact a game scheduled to begin in the afternoon and stretch into the evening.

Wagner shortstop Nicholas Mazzotta has been a key contributor on both sides of the ball. In Sunday’s win over Coppin State, he went 4 for 5 with four RBIs. Over his last 10 games, the shortstop has also recorded two pitching appearances, striking out five over 1.2 scoreless innings. He is one of three Seahawks who produced in the most recent victory, joined by third baseman Jayden Alvarez (3 for 5, one RBI) and first baseman Joseph Mennella (2 for 4, home run, two RBIs).

Mercyhurst second baseman Zach Black is a player to watch despite the Lakers’ recent struggles. Black went 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs in Tuesday’s loss to Niagara, accounting for the bulk of Mercyhurst’s offensive production. However, the Lakers’ lineup has been inconsistent: Black is 4 for 19 over his last seven games, with six of those contests resulting in one hit or fewer. Mercyhurst has scored more than five runs only once in its last 11 games.

The series is the first of a three-game set between the Northeast rivals. The teams meet again Friday and Saturday, both games at Heritage Financial Park.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-1 Wagner victory.

Mercyhurst pitchers Zac Evenson (2.2 innings, no hits, one strikeout) and Cody Smith (two innings, one earned run, two strikeouts) provided solid relief work Tuesday but could not overcome an early deficit.