HATTIESBURG, Miss. (Interstat) — Southern Mississippi seeks a three-game sweep of Sun Belt rival Louisiana-Monroe in the series finale at Pete Taylor Park on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set under clear skies and 68-degree temperatures.

The Golden Eagles (33-14 overall) have taken the first two games of the series by identical low-scoring margins, winning 3-1 and 2-1 in 11 innings on Saturday. Southern Miss has won five of its last six games overall and holds a commanding lead in the season series.

Louisiana-Monroe (24-23) has dropped four of its last five contests. The Warhawks are looking to salvage the finale after being held to two total runs over 20 innings Saturday.

Players to watch

Louisiana-Monroe infielder Bryce Blaser has shown explosive potential but inconsistent results. In his last 10 games, Blaser is batting .241 (10-for-41) with two home runs and 10 RBIs. He delivered a 3-for-4 performance with four RBIs in a 16-5 win over Louisiana Tech on April 28, but went 0-for-4 in the series-opening loss Friday.

Southern Miss pitcher Kros Sivley has been dominant out of the bullpen. Over his last seven appearances covering 15 1/3 innings, he has allowed three earned runs while striking out 13. Sivley has not allowed a hit in his last three outings, spanning 8 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Matchup outlook

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-5 Southern Miss victory. The Golden Eagles’ pitching staff has stifled the Warhawks offense in the first two games, while Southern Miss has manufactured runs in tight situations.

The teams are scheduled to meet again in the Sun Belt Conference tournament later this month. Both clubs face road series next weekend (Interstat) — Southern Miss travels to James Madison, while Louisiana-Monroe visits Marshall.