RIDER AT NIAGARA

STELA NIAGARA, N.Y. (Interstat) — Rider visits Niagara in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference baseball matchup Friday afternoon at Bobo Field, with the forecast calling for 52 degrees and rain.

The Broncs (23-14) enter the game after a 11-5 victory Wednesday against Stony Brook. The Purple Eagles (20-15-1) are coming off a 7-6 win Tuesday at Saint Bonaventure.

First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Rider first baseman Charley Magoulick has been the team’s most consistent hitter. In his last 10 games, Magoulick is batting .360 with four home runs and 17 RBIs. He went 2-for-5 with two homers and three RBIs in the win over Stony Brook, and earlier this season had a seven-RBI performance against Manhattan.

Niagara right-hander John Ondus has been effective in relief. In his last appearance Tuesday at Saint Bonaventure, Ondus threw two scoreless innings, allowing no hits and no runs. He has not allowed an earned run in his past three outings spanning 4 1/3 innings.

Rider has won four of its last six games. The Broncs are coming off a series split at Monmouth, losing 12-2 on April 26 before winning 14-4 on April 24. Rider also swept a three-game series against Manhattan on April 17-18, winning 8-2, 13-9 and losing 6-4 in the middle game.

Niagara has won three straight games and five of its last six. The Purple Eagles swept a three-game series at Saint Peter’s on April 24-26, winning 11-9, 12-8 and 18-5. Niagara also split a two-game series with Saint Bonaventure, winning 7-6 on Tuesday after tying 4-4 in 10 innings on April 21.

Interstat’s game simulator projects an 8-7 Rider victory.

The teams play a three-game series this weekend. After Friday’s game, Rider and Niagara meet again Saturday and Sunday at Bobo Field. The Broncs then travel to Rutgers on May 6 before a three-game series at Quinnipiac on May 7-8-11. Niagara hosts Le Moyne on May 5 before a three-game series at Manhattan on May 8-9-10.