BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — A surging Virginia Military Institute squad riding a four-game win streak will face a Samford team looking to stabilize its Southern Conference season when the teams open a three-game series Friday at Joe Lee Griffin Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CDT under clear skies with a temperature near 72 degrees.

The Keydets (24-8) enter with the conference’s best overall record, fresh off a 10-7 midweek victory over George Washington where they pounded out 14 hits. They have won eight of their last 11.

Samford (14-17) seeks consistency after dropping its last two games, including a 16-2 run-rule loss at Alabama on Tuesday. The Bulldogs are 4-6 in their last 10 contests.

A key matchup will feature VMI’s hot-hitting Cole Cook against a Samford pitching staff with a 6.12 team ERA. Cook, the Keydets’ left fielder, is coming off a career game Tuesday, going 3 for 4 with five RBIs against George Washington. Over his last 10 games, he is batting .294 (10 for 34) with seven RBIs, though his production has been sporadic.

For Samford, first baseman Jackson Harris provides a bright spot. He collected two of the Bulldogs’ four hits in the loss to Alabama and is 7 for 24 (.292) over his last 10 games. His steady contact will be crucial against a VMI pitching staff that has a 4.98 ERA.

The series marks the start of a critical SoCon stretch for both teams. VMI aims to solidify its standing atop the league, while Samford looks to climb from the middle of the pack.

Projections offer a conflicting outlook. Interstat’s game simulator predicts a 7-5 victory for VMI. However, the same service’s ELO rating system gives Samford a 70.2% probability to win Friday’s contest.

Following Friday’s opener, the series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. and concludes Sunday at 1 p.m.