LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Interstat) — A pivotal Atlantic Coast Conference series continues Saturday when the Pittsburgh Panthers visit the Louisville Cardinals at Jim Patterson Stadium.

The Panthers (17-6, 3-3 ACC) and Cardinals (16-9, 2-4 ACC) opened their three-game set Friday night. First pitch for Saturday’s afternoon contest is scheduled for 4 p.m. EDT under cloudy skies with temperatures near 50 degrees.

Pittsburgh enters riding momentum from a wild 8-7 midweek win over Youngstown State, powered by a strong offensive performance. A key catalyst is outfielder Lorenzo Carrier, who homered and drove in two runs in that victory. Carrier has shown prodigious power lately, hitting four home runs in his last eight games.

Louisville looks to rebound after a 10-5 loss at Western Kentucky on Tuesday. The Cardinals’ bullpen will be a focus, with right-hander Jake Schweitzer emerging as a reliable arm. In his last appearance against Western Kentucky, Schweitzer threw 2 1/3 scoreless and hitless innings. Over his last four outings, he has allowed just three hits in 5 2/3 innings, though he has been prone to occasional control issues.

The Panthers have the edge in overall record, but Louisville holds a formidable home-field advantage. According to Interstat’s game simulator, this contest projects to be a high-scoring affair, with a predicted final of Pittsburgh 8, Louisville 7.

The series concludes Sunday afternoon. Pittsburgh will then host Mercyhurst on Tuesday before a weekend ACC series against Wake Forest. Louisville will hit the road next week for a three-game conference series at Duke, followed by a rivalry matchup at Kentucky.