MOREHEAD STATE, Ky. (Interstat) — The Morehead State Eagles host the Western Illinois Leathernecks in an Ohio Valley Conference series opener Friday at 6 p.m. at Allen Field.

The Eagles (25-22) enter on a two-game winning streak after a 5-1 victory Wednesday at Ohio. Right-hander Sam Smith tossed six shutout innings, allowing no hits and striking out three. Smith, a key arm for Morehead State, also threw two scoreless innings April 22 at Marshall and two innings of one-run ball April 14 against Bellarmine.

Western Illinois (15-29) snapped a three-game skid Wednesday with a 13-3 win at Indiana State. Right fielder Kamryn Link went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs. Link, who has struggled with consistency, went 2-for-3 with an RBI last Saturday against Tennessee-Martin and 3-for-4 with two RBIs in a May 1 win over the Skyhawks.

The Leathernecks have lost five of their last seven, including a 19-10 loss to Tennessee-Martin on Sunday and a 14-2 defeat Saturday. Morehead State dropped two of three at Arkansas-Little Rock last weekend but won the series finale 1-0 on May 1.

Friday’s forecast calls for clear skies and 62 degrees at first pitch.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-6 Morehead State victory.

The series continues Saturday and Sunday at Allen Field. Western Illinois returns home next week to face Eastern Illinois, while Morehead State travels to Tennessee Tech.