LEXINGTON, Va. (Interstat) — The surging Virginia Military Institute Keydets, winners of 10 of their first 12 games, host the struggling Western Illinois Leathernecks in a three-game weekend series beginning Friday at Gray–Minor Stadium.

First pitch for the series opener is set for Friday evening. Forecasts call for cloudy skies and 77-degree temperatures.

The teams enter in contrasting form. VMI (10-2) has won six of its last seven, including a 7-0 shutout of Stonehill on Sunday where starter Roberto Velasquez shined with 7 1/3 scoreless innings. The Keydets’ offense has been potent, scoring 10 or more runs in five games this season.

Western Illinois (3-7) snapped a four-game skid with a 3-2 road win at Saint Louis on Tuesday but has struggled for consistency. The Leathernecks were swept in a three-game series at Louisiana-Monroe last weekend.

A key matchup will feature Western Illinois reliever Eric Rawlings, who earned the win Tuesday with three perfect innings and four strikeouts, against a deep VMI lineup. Rawlings has 12 strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings over his last four appearances, though he has been prone to occasional command lapses.

Velasquez (1-0, 0.00 ERA), coming off his dominant outing, is expected to be a key arm for the Keydets this series. Offensively, VMI first baseman Grayson Fitzwater, who hit a two-run homer Sunday, and catcher Cole Raile will look to provide run support.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-3 victory for Virginia Military Institute on Friday.

The series continues with a doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday. Western Illinois travels to Illinois next Tuesday, while VMI visits Norfolk State on Wednesday.