MOBILE, Ala. (Interstat) — The South Alabama Jaguars host the Arkansas State Red Wolves on Thursday night at Eddie Stanky Field in a key Sun Belt series opener.

South Alabama (31-20) enters with the better overall record, while Arkansas State (28-22) looks to reverse a recent slide. The forecast calls for 79 degrees and cloudy skies at first pitch.

The Jaguars will lean on right-hander Daniel Gonzalez, who has been a steady presence despite mixed results. In his last outing May 10 at Troy, Gonzalez allowed four earned runs on zero hits over 4 2/3 innings, striking out six. He took the loss in an 8-1 defeat. In his two prior starts, he worked 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball against Marshall and six innings of two-run ball against Southern Mississippi. Gonzalez has 16 strikeouts over his last three starts.

Arkansas State counters with a lineup anchored by right fielder Evan Griffis. Over his last 10 games, Griffis has shown power potential but also inconsistency. He went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs in a 15-9 loss to Texas State on May 10 but followed that with an 0-for-3 performance in an 8-3 loss the next day. In his last four games, he has four hits and six RBIs, including a 2-for-6, four-RBI effort in a 12-0 win at Arkansas-Little Rock on May 5.

The Red Wolves dropped two of three at home to Texas State last weekend, including the series finale 15-9. Shortstop Patrick Engskov added two hits and two RBIs in that loss.

South Alabama also lost its last series at Troy, falling 8-1 in the rubber match Sunday.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-3 victory for South Alabama, with the Jaguars holding a 64.5 percent win probability per the ELO system.

The teams meet again Friday and Saturday in the three-game set.