AP Sports Preview

CHARLESTON, Ill. (Interstat) — Eastern Illinois and SIU Edwardsville meet Saturday for a day-night doubleheader at Coaches Stadium at Monier Field, with the Ohio Valley Conference rivals looking to gain an edge in the series after a tight opener.

The Panthers (28-16) hold the better overall record, but the Cougars (28-21) grabbed a 3-2 victory Friday in the series opener. The weather forecast calls for 68-degree temperatures and rain at game time.

Saturday pitching matchup features a rematch of Friday’s starters. SIUE right-hander Spencer Stearns (5-2) threw six shutout innings in the win, allowing no hits and one earned run while striking out three. Stearns has been inconsistent this season, tossing seven scoreless frames in a May 2 win over Lindenwood but allowing seven earned runs in two-thirds of an inning April 18 at Western Illinois.

Eastern Illinois will counter with right-hander Tyler Conklin (4-3), who took the loss Friday despite a quality start: seven innings, four hits, two earned runs and five strikeouts. Conklin has allowed at least three earned runs in three of his past four starts but has pitched at least five innings in each outing.

SIUE enters on a four-game winning streak, including a three-game sweep of Lindenwood (MO) last weekend and a midweek victory at Evansville. The Cougars have won seven of their past 10.

Eastern Illinois won three of four against Southeast Missouri State last weekend before Friday’s setback. The Panthers are 6-4 in their past 10 games.

Both teams will send their aces to the mound in the first game before likely turning to bullpen arms in the nightcap.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-6 victory for Eastern Illinois, and its ELO system gives the Panthers a 54.9 percent probability to win.

The series concludes Sunday, before both teams return to conference play next week. SIUE visits Southern Illinois on Tuesday, while Eastern Illinois travels to Illinois State on Tuesday.