CARBONDALE, Ill. (Interstat) — A pair of Missouri Valley Conference teams headed in opposite directions meet Thursday afternoon when Valparaiso visits Southern Illinois at Abe Martin Field.

The Salukis (21-29) look to build on a series win at Belmont over the weekend, while the Beacons (11-35) are seeking to snap a four-game losing streak. First pitch is set for the afternoon with clear skies and a temperature of 73 degrees.

Southern Illinois enters with momentum after taking two of three from the Bruins, though they dropped a 9-7 nonconference contest to SIU Edwardsville on Tuesday. Kristian Sprawling has been a steady presence in the lineup, going 3-for-5 with an RBI in that loss. Over his last 11 games, the left fielder has multiple hits five times, including a 4-for-5 performance with a home run May 1 against Indiana State. Sprawling is hitting .308 in conference play and provides a spark at the top of the order.

Valparaiso returns to the diamond after being shut out 11-0 by Evansville on Sunday. The Beacons have lost 10 of their last 11. Right-hander Nick Baffa, who took the loss in that game, threw seven innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs while striking out seven. That performance followed a rocky outing May 3 at Illinois State, where he surrendered four earned runs in four innings. Baffa has shown flashes of dominance (Interstat) — he tossed seven shutout innings April 19 against UIC (Interstat) — but consistency has eluded him.

The matchup features two pitchers with contrasting recent results. Baffa owns a 4.50 ERA over his last four starts, while Southern Illinois has not announced its starter. The Salukis’ bullpen has been effective lately, with Gio De Graauw striking out five over two scoreless innings Tuesday.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, Southern Illinois is projected to win 5-2, with an ELO-based win probability of 77.3 percent. The Salukis hold a 6-4 edge in their last 10 meetings with Valparaiso.

The teams will meet again Friday and Saturday to close the regular season. For Valparaiso, avoiding a sweep could build momentum heading into the MVC tournament. For Southern Illinois, each win strengthens its case for a higher seed.

Weather should not be a factor, with clear skies and mild temperatures expected throughout the contest.