TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (Interstat) — The Alabama Crimson Tide, riding a strong start to the season, will host the North Florida Ospreys in a non-conference baseball series opener Friday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. under cloudy skies with a game-time temperature near 75 degrees.

Alabama (11-3) enters with significant momentum, having won nine of its last 11 games. The Crimson Tide offense is averaging over eight runs per game during that stretch. A key catalyst has been designated hitter Brady Neal, who brings a powerful bat into the weekend. Neal is 9 for his last 26 (.346) with three home runs and nine RBIs over his past seven games, including a 2-for-4 performance with two RBIs in Wednesday’s 13-4 road win at Alabama State.

The North Florida Ospreys (8-6) look to rebound after being shut out 4-0 by Villanova on Wednesday. While the offense was quiet, the bullpen provided a bright spot. Reliever Kai Etwaru was particularly sharp, throwing two hitless innings with two strikeouts. Over his last three appearances spanning 5 1/3 innings, Etwaru has allowed just two hits and zero earned runs while striking out nine.

Alabama’s pitching staff, which saw Anthony Pesci and Joe Chiarodo combine for 4 1/3 scoreless innings of relief Wednesday, will face a North Florida lineup that scored 39 runs in a three-game sweep of Presbyterian last weekend before the midweek stumble.

The series marks the first meeting between the programs. According to Interstat, the Crimson Tide are heavy favorites with an 82.8% probability to win Friday’s game. Their game simulator projects a narrow 7-6 Alabama victory.

The teams will continue the three-game series Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Alabama will host Troy next Tuesday before opening Southeastern Conference play at Kentucky next weekend. North Florida visits Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday before beginning ASUN Conference action at Stetson.