ATHENS, Ga. (Interstat) — Georgia, seeking to tighten its grip on the Southeastern Conference standings, opens a key three-game series against LSU at 7 p.m. Friday at Athens Olympic Indoor Hall. The venue’s covered setting renders the forecast of 67-degree rain moot for the participants, but the conditions inside the building promise plenty of heat.

Georgia (38-11) enters on a three-game winning streak after sweeping Missouri last weekend, outscoring the Tigers 31-7. The Bulldogs feature a balanced attack behind junior infielder Ryan Black, who is 5-for-12 with a home run and seven RBIs over his last four games. Black went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs in Sunday’s 14-4 win over Missouri, raising his season average. Georgia’s other key bats include shortstop Kolby Branch, who also drove in three runs in that game, and right-hander Caden Aoki, who struck out eight over six innings in Friday’s 4-0 shutout.

LSU (29-21) counters after a 13-6 win Tuesday over Tulane, breaking a four-game skid. Third baseman John Pearson went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs in that victory, though he has been inconsistent: Pearson has hits in only four of his last 10 games and is batting .222 over that stretch after an 0-for-2 in a loss at Mississippi State. Shortstop Steven Milam (2-for-4, four RBIs) and designated hitter Seth Dardar (3-for-5, two RBIs) also starred against Tulane.

The analytics favor Georgia. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-6 Bulldogs victory, and its ELO system gives Georgia a 51.60 percent probability to win. The teams meet again Saturday and Sunday before LSU hosts Florida next week and Georgia visits Auburn.

LSU’s series at Mississippi State last month proved costly: The Tigers dropped all three games, including a 10-8, 11-inning loss Apr. 24. Georgia, meanwhile, took two of three at Arkansas and swept Mississippi at home, outscoring the Rebels 22-9 in that series.