SAN FRANCISCO (Interstat) — The struggling UMass Lowell River Hawks look to snap a five-game skid when they open a four-game series against the San Francisco Dons on Friday at Dante Benedetti Diamond at Max Ulrich Field.

First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. PDT under cloudy skies with a temperature near 63 degrees.

The River Hawks (1-5) arrive on the West Coast seeking their first win since a season-opening victory on Feb. 13. They are coming off a 10-2 loss to Indiana State on Feb. 22, part of a difficult stretch where they have been outscored 61-34.

A bright spot in that loss was starter Jacob Jette, who allowed five hits and no earned runs over 4 2/3 innings. Jette is a player to watch for UMass Lowell as it searches for consistency on the mound.

San Francisco (6-5) has been uneven but holds a clear advantage in record. The Dons dropped a tight 2-1 series finale to California Baptist on March 1 but had won the previous game. They are 5-2 at home this season.

The Dons will rely on right-hander Adrian Valdez, who turned in a strong performance against California Baptist. Valdez took a hard-luck loss, allowing one earned run on three hits with five strikeouts over five innings. His previous outing on Feb. 21 was more volatile, as he walked six and allowed three earned runs without surrendering a hit over four innings against San Jose State.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the projected final score is San Francisco 4, Massachusetts-Lowell 2.

The series continues with games on Saturday, Sunday and Monday in San Francisco before the River Hawks head to Sacramento State and the Dons prepare for a road series at UC Riverside.