SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — Northern Kentucky visits Elon on Thursday in a nonconference baseball matchup at Cleveland S. Harley Baseball Park. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. under clear skies with a forecast temperature of 76 degrees.

The Norse enter the game with a 23-26 overall record after dropping two of three at home against Wright State over the weekend. Elon, meanwhile, brings a 20-31 mark into the contest after a 10-3 win at Queens (N.C.) on Tuesday, its first victory in four games.

Northern Kentucky’s Landon Springmeyer has been the team’s most consistent offensive threat. The designated hitter went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs in Sunday’s 17-10 loss to Wright State. Over his past four games, Springmeyer is batting .353 (6-for-17) with two homers and 11 RBIs. He also had a three-hit, six-RBI performance in a 12-11 win over Wright State on May 8.

Elon will counter with left-hander Cole Hansen, who threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings against Queens, allowing no hits and three earned runs while striking out six. Hansen has been steady out of the bullpen, posting a 2.84 ERA over his past three appearances with 13 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings. He has not allowed a hit in his last 7 2/3 frames dating back to May 3 against William & Mary.

The Norse have shown offensive firepower but have been inconsistent. Northern Kentucky scored 30 runs in a win over Oakland on April 24 but has allowed double-digit runs in five of its past seven losses. The Phoenix have struggled more broadly, losing 10 of their last 12 games before Tuesday’s victory.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-3 win for Northern Kentucky, while the website’s ELO system gives Elon a 58 percent chance to win — a split that reflects both teams’ volatility.

Northern Kentucky continues its South Carolina swing with a two-game series at South Carolina Upstate beginning Friday. Elon also faces USC Upstate on Thursday after this game.