AUBURN, Ala. (Interstat) — A pair of 10-2 teams will meet Saturday at Samford Stadium – Hitchcock Field at Plainsman Park as the Auburn Tigers host the Winthrop Eagles in an afternoon contest, though rain is in the forecast.

The nonconference matchup features two clubs riding strong early-season momentum. Auburn, coming off a 6-2 win over Samford on Tuesday, has won eight of its last nine. Winthrop, which defeated Michigan State 5-2 on Tuesday, has won nine of its last ten.

A key matchup will be on the mound, where each team’s recent standout pitcher could play a role. For Winthrop, right-hander Garrett Byrd has been dominant in relief, tossing 5 1/3 scoreless and hitless innings over his last two appearances, striking out five. He earned the win with four perfect innings at Michigan State.

Auburn will counter with left-hander Andreas Alvarez, who started and won against Samford. He fired five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out eight. In his previous start, a 4-3 win over West Georgia, he went 5 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts.

Offensively, Winthrop’s Josh Skowronski is coming off a two-hit, two-RBI game that included a home run at Michigan State. For Auburn, shortstop Eric Guevara provided a key two-run homer in the win over Samford.

The series opened Friday afternoon with Auburn securing a victory. Interstat’s game simulator projects a high-scoring affair Saturday, predicting an 8-7 Winthrop win.

First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. CDT. The forecast calls for temperatures near 75 degrees with rain.

Probable Starters: WIU - RHP Garrett Byrd (key bullpen arm). AU - LHP Andreas Alvarez (2-0, 1.59 ERA, 15 K in 10.2 IP).