FAIRLAWN, Va. (Interstat) — The Big South series between UNC Asheville and Radford concludes Sunday afternoon at Radford Baseball Stadium, with the teams splitting the first two games. The Highlanders (23-22) won Friday’s opener 9-5, and the Bulldogs (19-32) evened the series with a 4-2 victory Saturday.

UNC Asheville will send right-hander Cooper Smith to the mound in the rubber match. Smith, who earned the win Saturday, tossed eight scoreless innings, allowing zero hits and one unearned run while striking out five. The outing continued a dominant stretch for the junior, who on May 3 threw a complete-game, five-hit shutout against Winthrop. Smith has been inconsistent, however, allowing five earned runs without recording an out on April 26 against Charleston Southern. Sunday’s forecast calls for clouds and a first-pitch temperature of 67 degrees.

Radford counters with right-hander Matthew Lefevers, who took the loss Saturday despite a solid start. Lefevers allowed one earned run on six hits over five innings with one strikeout. The sophomore has shown flashes of dominance, including a five-inning, one-hit outing against Presbyterian on April 25, but has also struggled with command, yielding three earned runs in one inning at Virginia on May 3.

The Highlanders enter the game having won four of their last six, including a 12-10 victory at East Tennessee State on Tuesday. UNC Asheville dropped two of three against Winthrop before splitting the first two games of this series.

An Interstat game simulator projects a 6-2 Radford win.

UNC Asheville’s next series is at home against High Point beginning Thursday. Radford travels to Charleston Southern for a three-game set starting the same day.