LEXINGTON, Va. (Interstat) — The Citadel Bulldogs visit Virginia Military Institute Keydets on Saturday afternoon at Gray–Minor Stadium in a Southern Conference series finale, with first pitch expected under cloudy skies and 65-degree temperatures.

Citadel (29-24) has taken the first two games of the series, winning 7-4 on Friday and 9-2 on Thursday. The Bulldogs look to complete a sweep behind a pitching staff that has limited VMI to six runs in 18 innings. Virginia Military Institute (28-25) seeks to avoid a three-game sweep and bolster its postseason positioning.

Junior right-hander Andrew Buffkin is a key player for Citadel. He earned the win Friday, throwing 5 innings with no hits, two earned runs and three strikeouts. Over his last five starts, Buffkin is 4-1 with a 1.47 ERA, including a complete-game shutout of Samford on May 8 (9 IP, 9 H, 0 ER, 6 K) and a 5.1-inning, no-hit outing against Presbyterian on May 3.

VMI counters with sophomore right-hander Clark Driscoll. He took the loss Friday, allowing five hits and three earned runs over 5 innings with four strikeouts. Driscoll has struggled recently, with a 7.71 ERA over his past three appearances, though he threw 4 scoreless innings against Longwood on April 28.

The Bulldogs’ offense has been productive in the series. First baseman Zach Hunt drove in four runs Friday, going 3-for-5. Pitcher Michael Gibson added 3.1 scoreless innings with six strikeouts in relief.

VMI’s lineup was led in Friday’s loss by third baseman Ayden Schnarrs, who drove in two runs. Pitcher Hunter Sipe allowed six hits and four earned runs over 5 innings.

Citadel enters having won six of its last seven games, including a 3-2 win at Presbyterian and a 4-0 shutout of South Carolina. The Bulldogs’ only loss in that stretch was a 5-4, 10-inning setback to Samford.

VMI has dropped four of its last five, including a 15-5 win over Norfolk State sandwiched between losses to Mercer and Citadel.

The Interstat game simulator projects a 7-2 Citadel victory, with the Bulldogs holding a 56.3 percent win probability according to its ELO system. The game is the third of a three-game series, with Citadel seeking its 30th win of the season.