CONWAY, Ark. (Interstat) — The Lipscomb Bisons visit the Central Arkansas Bears on Thursday night at Bear Stadium in the opener of a three-game ASUN series, with both teams looking to build momentum in the final weeks of the regular season.

First pitch is set for 6 p.m. under clear skies with a temperature of 81 degrees. Lipscomb enters with a 24-23 overall record; Central Arkansas is 29-23.

The Bears took two of three games in the previous head-to-head series, played April 10-12 in Nashville. Central Arkansas won the opener 12-6 and the middle game 10-5 before Lipscomb salvaged a 6-5 victory in the finale.

Thursday’s expected starting pitchers are Lipscomb right-hander Caleb Pica and Central Arkansas right-hander Jacob Pannell, both coming off strong outings.

Pica (4-3, 4.02 ERA) threw five shutout innings in a 2-1 win over Bellarmine on May 9, allowing six hits with three strikeouts. In his prior start April 28 against Tennessee Tech, he surrendered three earned runs in four innings of a 15-5 loss.

Pannell (5-2, 4.50 ERA) worked six innings of one-run ball in Central Arkansas’ 4-3, 10-inning win over North Alabama on May 9, striking out three. Over his previous three starts he compiled a 4.91 ERA but allowed just one earned run total in two of those outings.

Lipscomb is coming off a home series sweep of Bellarmine, winning 2-1, 6-4 and 5-4. Outfielder Jordan Thomas went 3-for-4 with a home run and an RBI in the series finale.

Central Arkansas rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the ninth inning to beat North Alabama 4-3 in 10 innings on Saturday, avoiding a series loss. Reliever Hunter Alexander pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win.

The Bisons have lost three of their last four road games, while the Bears are 15-10 at home this season.

Lipscomb will send Pica to the mound looking to snap a two-game losing streak at Bear Stadium. Central Arkansas counters with Pannell, who has won his last two decisions.

A statistical projection from Interstat’s game simulator predicts a 7-6 Lipscomb victory.

The series continues Friday and Saturday, with first pitches scheduled for 6 p.m. both days.