LAKE CHARLES, La. (Interstat) — A tightly contested Southland Conference series concludes Sunday when the McNeese State Cowboys host the Incarnate Word Cardinals at Sudduth Coliseum.

First pitch is scheduled for the afternoon. The forecast calls for cloudy skies and a temperature near 80 degrees.

The series is tied after a split of the first two games. Incarnate Word (16-18) won 6-2 on Friday before McNeese State (16-17) responded with an 8-3 victory Saturday night. A Interstat game simulator projects a narrow 5-4 Cardinals win in the rubber match.

Incarnate Word right fielder Preston Newberry, who homered in Saturday’s loss, will be a key bat for the visitors. Over his last 10 games, Newberry is batting .300 (12 for 40) with three home runs and seven RBIs.

For the Cowboys, reliever Brady Corcoran will be a player to watch. He earned the win Saturday with 3 1/3 strong innings, allowing one earned run on two hits with three strikeouts. In his last five appearances, Corcoran has posted a 2.16 ERA over 8 1/3 innings, striking out 12.

Both teams enter the finale with identical momentum, having won four of their last 10 games overall. The winner will secure the series and move above .500 in conference play.

Following Sunday’s game, Incarnate Word travels to face Texas Tech on Wednesday. McNeese State hosts Grambling on Tuesday.