BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Interstat) — The Illinois Fighting Illini and Indiana Hoosiers meet Friday at 6 p.m. at Bart Kaufman Field in a Big Ten series opener that carries postseason implications for both clubs.

Illinois (26-24) enters with a 4-10 loss to Indiana on Thursday, dropping the first game of this four-game set. The Fighting Illini had won five of six before that defeat, including a weekend sweep of Northwestern. Indiana (22-30) snapped a five-game skid with Thursday’s victory, its first since May 1 at Northwestern.

Forecast calls for 65-degree temperatures and clear skies.

Illinois’ Nick Groves batted 2-for-5 with two RBIs in Thursday’s loss. The center fielder is hitting .350 over his last 10 games, with multiple hits in six of those contests. He went 3-for-4 with an RBI in a 10-3 win over Northwestern on May 10.

Indiana’s Owen ten Oever produced the decisive blow Thursday, going 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs. The designated hitter has reached base safely in nine of his last 10 games and homered twice in that stretch, including a solo shot at Purdue on May 10.

The Hoosiers lead the season series 1-0 after Thursday’s win. Illinois has not played at Bart Kaufman Field this season.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-3 Illinois victory, but the site’s ELO system gives Indiana a 52.3 percent probability of winning.

The two teams play again Saturday.