LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Interstat) — Central Arkansas looks to build on a lopsided series-opening win Saturday when the Bears face Bellarmine in an ASUN afternoon matchup at Knights Field.

The Bears (24-19) roughed up the Knights 13-2 on Friday, pounding 13 hits while starter Denver Hamilton turned in a gem: 7 innings, no hits, two earned runs and five strikeouts. Hamilton, a right-hander, is scheduled to start Saturday after throwing 97 pitches in Friday’s victory. He has won his past four starts, including a 12-2 win over Eastern Kentucky on April 17 and a 12-6 victory at Lipscomb on April 10. Left fielder Keaton Laidley went 2-for-4 with three RBIs on Friday, and center fielder Zeb Allen homered and drove in three.

Bellarmine (17-24) will counter with right-hander Brandon Newland, who threw a scoreless inning of relief Friday. Newland has appeared in two games this season, both against the Bears. He also pitched an inning in a 13-3 loss at Morehead State on April 14. The Knights have lost four of their last five, including a 10-6 defeat at Dayton on Tuesday, and have been outscored 29-6 in their last two home games against Central Arkansas.

The forecast calls for 80-degree temperatures with rain expected around game time. The Bears and Knights are meeting for the fourth time this season, with Central Arkansas holding a 2-1 edge in the series. Bellarmine won 5-2 on March 21 before the Bears answered with an 8-7 victory March 22 and Friday’s blowout.

Central Arkansas’s offense has been potent in its past two wins, scoring 13 and 12 runs. The Bears average 7.1 runs per game. Bellarmine’s pitching staff has a 6.89 ERA in ASUN play.

Interstat’s game simulator projects an 8-4 Bears victory, and the ELO system gives Central Arkansas a 61.9% probability to win.

The teams will play the series finale Sunday.

Bellarmine’s next 10 games include trips to North Alabama and Lipscomb, while Central Arkansas will visit Austin Peay and Memphis before returning home to face North Alabama and Lipscomb.