ALBANY, N.Y.- The University at Albany baseball team will look for its second-straight series win against a MEAC foe, visiting Norfolk State for a three-game series, marking the first matchup between the programs.

Series Info
Saturday, February 29 (Doubleheader Game 1, 12:00 p.m.)
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Saturday, February 29 (Doubleheader Game 2, 3:00 p.m.)
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Sunday, March 1 (1:00 p.m.)
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Records: UAlbany (2-4), Norfolk State (2-5) 

Projected Pitching Matchups 
Game 1: LHP Cregg Scherrer (0-1, 12.86 ERA) vs. RHP Alex Wright (0-1, 9.31 ERA)
Game 2: RHP Ray Weber (0-1, 10.80 ERA) vs. LHP Ridge Walker (1-1, 5.84 ERA)
Game 3: RHP Anthony Germinerio (0-2, 9.00 ERA) vs. TBD
 
Leading the Pack

• UAlbany is 42nd in the NCAA in fielding percentage (.980).
• Sophomore Jason Bottari leads the Great Danes in batting average (.375), runs (five), on base percentage (.444) and stolen bases (five).
• Alex Thul earned UAlbany's first weekly award of the season for his .333 average and three RBIs in a 2-1 series win over Maryland Eastern Shore.
• Joe Kruszka earned his first save of the season in a scoreless six-out game one victory over Maryland Eastern Shore.
• Freshman pitcher Cregg Scherrer will be the series game one pitcher for the first time in his career against Norfolk State.
• Norfolk State's Ty Hanchey ranks top-30 in the NCAA in batting average (.500) and on base percentage (.600) through the first two weeks of the season.
• The Spartans lead the MEAC in team batting average (.288) and on base percentage (.368).

Scouting Norfolk State
The Spartans are 2-5 on the season and enter this weekend's series on a four-game losing streak. They have seven position players who have started all-seven games, led by catcher Ty Hanchey who is hitting .500 (12-24) and leads or ties the team lead in runs (five), walks (six), on base percentage (.600) and stolen bases (three). Second baseman Alsander Womack and outfielder Caleb Ward were both MEAC Preseason First Team selections, while first baseman Stephen Baughan was a Second Team selection. Norfolk State placed third in the MEAC Preseason Poll with one first-place vote.

Last Time Out
UAlbany won its first two games of the season in a 2-1 series victory against Maryland Eastern Shore. Alex Thul earned player of the week honors for his .333 average and three RBIs. Dolan Ocasal and Jason Bottari each hit .400 in 10 at bats, Ocasal added two runs and Bottari added four runs and went 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts. Hunter Torres and Kenny McLean each earned their first win of the season, allowing no runs in 2.2 and two innings of relief, respectively. Joe Kruszka earned his first save of the season in a scoreless six-out effort. Game one of the series ended with a 5-4-3 triple play. The Great Danes won the series despite being outscored by the Hawks, 17-16.

Thul Earns America East Player of the Week
Senior Alex Thul earned baseball's first weekly honor of the season for his weekend at the plate against Maryland Eastern Shore. Thul was named Player of the Week, the America East announced Tuesday, February 25.

The Martinsville, New Jersey native hit 4-12 (.333) with three RBIs and one run scored in a 2-1 series win over Maryland Eastern Shore. Thul recorded two RBIs in a 6-3 doubleheader game two victory, helping the Great Danes erase an early 3-0 deficit.

Great Danes Tabbed Fourth in Preseason Poll
The University at Albany baseball team is picked to finish fourth in the America East Coaches' Poll.

The Great Danes garnered 22 points in the annual poll, finishing ahead of UMass Lowell (18 points), Maine (13 points) and UMBC (6 points). Binghamton (33 points) was selected first with four first place votes, defending champion Stony Brook (30 points) was picked second with two first place votes and Hartford secured the final first place vote in third with 25 points.
 
Kruszka Earns Collegiate Preseason All-American
Senior pitcher Joe Kruszka was named a Collegiate Baseball Third Team All-American, the publication announced on Friday, January 3. The Gowanda, N.Y., native finished the 2019 campaign with a 2.16 ERA, which led the team, and notched a team- and conference-high 10 saves.
 
Two Decades and Counting
Head coach Jon Mueller is set for his 21^st season at the helm of Great Danes' baseball. Mueller enters the 2020 season as the reining America East Coach of the Year, his second at UAlbany (2004). Mueller compiled a 28-21 record last season including a nine-game winning streak to end the regular season. His 28 wins were the most at UAlbany since 2007. 
 
Early Bird Special
The Great Danes February 14 start to the 2020 season is the program's earliest since joining Division I Baseball in 2000. The start is one day earlier than the team's 2013 start date of February 15, marking just the second time in eight seasons that UAlbany is playing on opening weekend. 
 
Next: UAlbany heads to Manhattan for a three-game series Saturday, March 7 through Sunday, March 8.