CHARLESTON, S.C. (Interstat) — A surging Charleston Southern lineup will look to stay hot when the Buccaneers visit The Citadel Bulldogs in a nonconference matchup Tuesday at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

The Buccaneers (20-10) enter on a three-game winning streak after sweeping a weekend series from Presbyterian, outscoring the Blue Hose 35-23. Their offense has been potent, averaging over eight runs per game during that stretch.

A key catalyst has been center fielder Kain Collins. Over his last five games, Collins is 7 for 18 (.389) with four RBIs. He drove in three runs in Saturday’s 15-11 victory over Presbyterian.

The Citadel (14-16) looks to rebound after a 5-1 loss to Longwood on Saturday snapped a brief two-game win streak. Bulldogs reliever Riley Ballard was a bright spot in that defeat, striking out four over two scoreless innings of one-hit ball. Ballard has shown swing-and-miss stuff recently, fanning eight batters over six innings in his last two appearances.

Charleston Southern’s recent success contrasts with a tough stretch for The Citadel, which has dropped four of its last six contests. The Bulldogs’ pitching will be tested by a Buccaneers order that produced 15 hits in its last outing, including multi-hit games from Tyler Wright and Blake Edgmon alongside Collins.

Tuesday’s forecast calls for cloudy skies and a game-time temperature of 64 degrees.

The Interstat game simulator projects a close contest, favoring Charleston Southern 7-6.

This is the first of a home-and-home set between the local foes. They will meet again next Tuesday, April 14, at Charleston Southern.

Following this game, the Buccaneers begin a Big South Conference series at USC Upstate on Friday. The Citadel travels to face Winthrop on Wednesday before opening a Southern Conference series at Wofford on Friday.