RUSTON, La. (Interstat) — Louisiana Tech looks to build on its series-opening win when the Bulldogs host Sam Houston in a Conference USA matchup Friday night at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.

First pitch is set for 6 p.m. under clear skies and 84-degree heat.

Louisiana Tech (32-22) took the opener 2-1 on Thursday, handing the Bearkats (23-31) their third consecutive loss. The Bulldogs have won five of their last seven overall and sit comfortably above .500. Sam Houston has dropped three straight and six of its last eight.

The pitching matchup features a pair of starters who squared off Thursday.

Sam Houston’s Ryan Peterson (4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 K in a no-decision) returns on short rest. The right-hander has been erratic this season, mixing dominant outings — 8.0 shutout innings with nine strikeouts against Middle Tennessee on April 24 — with struggles, including a six-earned-run outing at Kennesaw State on May 1. In his last five starts, Peterson has allowed two or fewer earned runs three times.

Louisiana Tech counters with Declan Dahl, who earned the win Thursday with five innings of two-hit ball, allowing one run and striking out seven. The right-hander has been sharp in May, posting a 1.80 ERA over his past three starts with 19 strikeouts in 16 innings. His season highlight came April 17 at Kennesaw State, where he struck out 13 over 5.2 scoreless innings.

The Bulldogs’ bullpen has been reliable, with Thomas Allen and Luke Nichols combining for four scoreless innings in Thursday’s win.

Offensively, Sam Houston’s Jeric Curtis homered and drove in the Bearkats’ only run in the series opener, going 1-for-4.

This is the first of a three-game set, with the teams scheduled to meet again Saturday.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-4 Louisiana Tech victory, with the Bulldogs holding a 69.9 percent win probability according to the site’s ELO system.