NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State baseball team plays its third straight home weekend series to open 2020 this Saturday and Sunday as the University at Albany visits Marty L. Miller Field for a three-game set.

The teams play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon, and a single game on Sunday starting at 1 p.m. Live stats and live video will be available for all three games.

Series History
This is the first meeting all-time between the teams. NSU is 4-11 all-time against other teams in the America East, with a pair of wins over both Binghamton and UMBC.

Scouting the Spartans
NSU had its midweek game at VMI postponed by inclement weather on Wednesday, so the Spartans will be six days removed from their last contest, an 11-0 setback against Morehead State. The Spartans (2-5), who have lost four straight, dropped the first two games of that series by scores of 5-4 and 9-6.

NSU has been led at the plate so far this year by sophomore catcher Ty Hanchey, who leads the MEAC and ranks tied for 22^nd nationally with his .500 average. He also reaches base at a .600 clip. Hanchey is one of five Spartan regulars who bat at least .300, including infielder Danny Hosley (.364), outfielder Mason Velasquez (.333), second baseman Alsander Womack (.313) and outfielder Caleb Ward (.300).

As a team, NSU is hitting .288, tops in the MEAC, and reaches base at a .368 clip.

Graduate student right hander Alex Wright paces the pitching staff with 15 strikeouts in just 9.2 innings pitched. He ranks fourth in the conference in punchouts.

Scouting the Great Danes
Albany enters this weekend's series with a 2-4 overall record. After opening the season by dropping three games at Arizona, the Great Danes rebounded by winning two of three from Maryland Eastern Shore last weekend in Salisbury, Maryland. Senior Alex Thul was named America East Player of the Week after hitting .333 with three RBIs in that series. Thul has a team-best four RBIs and is hitting .350. Jason Bottari is batting a team-best .375.

Albany was picked to finish fourth in the America East this year. Relief pitcher Joe Kruszka, a preseason All-America third team selection by Collegiate Baseball News, was one of four Great Danes named to the All-America East preseason team.