TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (Interstat) — The Indiana State Sycamores (29-23) host the Belmont Bruins (19-33) on Thursday afternoon in the opener of a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series at Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. under cloudy skies with a temperature of 67 degrees.

Indiana State enters the game having won four of its past five, including an 11-6 victory over Lindenwood on Tuesday. The Sycamores are 10-7 in MVC play and sit in the middle of the conference standings. They have been powered offensively by third baseman Mason Roell, who went 2-for-3 with four RBIs in Tuesday’s win. Over his last 10 games, Roell has posted three multi-hit games, two home runs and nine RBIs, including a five-RBI outburst May 1 at Southern Illinois.

Belmont, by contrast, has lost five straight and eight of its last nine. The Bruins were routed 11-1 by Tennessee on Tuesday, managing just two hits. Their most reliable pitcher in that game was Cole Kenyon, who allowed two earned runs over 2 2/3 innings, striking out none but scattering zero hits. Kenyon has a 5.40 ERA over his last two appearances, both losses.

The Bruins have struggled to score, plating four or fewer runs in six of their last seven games. Their pitching staff has a collective ERA above 7.00 in conference play.

The all-time series between the two programs is relatively even, but Indiana State has dominated recent meetings, winning eight of the last 10 at home. The Sycamores’ pitching staff has a 3.45 ERA over that stretch.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, Indiana State is projected to win 6-4.

Other key contributors for Indiana State include center fielder Carter Beck, who homered and drove in two runs Tuesday, and pitcher Aaron Moss, who threw three shutout innings of relief in that game. For Belmont, infielder Sam Heyman and reliever Zane Brown each tossed a scoreless inning against Tennessee, but the Bruins’ bullpen has been inconsistent.

The series continues Friday and Saturday at the same venue. Both teams are vying for positioning in the MVC tournament, with Indiana State holding a comfortable edge in the standings.

Thursday’s game marks the only scheduled regular-season meeting between the two programs this season, making it a critical opportunity for Belmont to salvage momentum. The Bruins have not won a road series since early April.