ST. GEORGE, Utah (Interstat) — Abilene Christian visits Utah Tech on Thursday at Burns Arena in a Western Athletic Conference series opener. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. MDT under clear skies and 88-degree heat.

The Wildcats (24-25 overall) look to build on a 16-6 rout of Utah Valley on Sunday, their second win in that three-game set. Utah Tech (28-21) lost 16-9 at Utah on Tuesday, dropping its second straight after a split at Texas-Arlington.

Abilene Christian outfielder Brady Ladusau is a player to watch. The senior went 4 for 6 with six RBIs in Sunday’s win, but he had been 0 for his previous 10 at-bats before that outburst. Ladusau also homered April 25 against Texas-Arlington.

Utah Tech counters with right-handed pitcher Bryce Intagliata. Over his last four relief appearances, he has allowed no runs and one hit in 2 2/3 innings, striking out none while walking two. Intagliata worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings against Utah on Tuesday.

The Wildcats have won three of their last four. Their offense exploded for 16 runs on 18 hits against Utah Valley, with Diego Cardenas hitting two homers and driving in two runs and JT Thompson adding two hits and four RBIs.

Utah Tech has lost three of four. The Trailblazers’ offense managed only two runs in a series-opening loss to Texas-Arlington on Friday before erupting for 16 runs in a win Saturday. Hudson Manwaring went 4 for 5 with two RBIs in Tuesday’s loss to Utah.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-3 Abilene Christian win, and its ELO system gives the Wildcats a 58.5% probability of victory.

The teams meet again Friday and Saturday at Burns Arena.