ALBANY, N.Y. (Interstat) — The NJIT Highlanders and Albany Great Danes open a three-game America East series with a doubleheader Friday afternoon at Varsity Field.

First pitch is set for 4 p.m., with the second game to follow approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the opener. The forecast calls for 69 degrees and cloudy skies.

NJIT (13-22) enters having dropped four of its last five, including an 11-5 home loss to Hofstra on Tuesday. The Highlanders hold a narrow edge in the season series, having taken two of three from Albany in Newark from March 20-22. The Great Danes (10-21) have lost 10 of their last 13, most recently a 10-0 defeat at Siena on Tuesday.

A player to watch for NJIT is right-handed pitcher Tate Jones. The Highlanders’ reliever has been active recently, tossing five innings in Tuesday’s loss (4 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 strikeouts). Over his last seven appearances dating to March 29, Jones has worked 19.1 innings, allowing 15 earned runs with 12 strikeouts.

For Albany, right-hander Tyler Kneller is a key arm out of the bullpen. He threw a scoreless inning Tuesday at Siena but has struggled overall, surrendering eight earned runs over 3.2 innings in his two prior outings against Bryant and Long Island.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 5-4 NJIT win. Its ELO system gives the Highlanders a 54% probability of victory.