LA JOLLA, Calif. (Interstat) — Cal State Fullerton visits UC San Diego on Thursday in a Big West series opener, with both teams near the .500 mark and seeking momentum down the stretch.

First pitch at Triton Baseball Field is scheduled for 6 p.m. The forecast calls for clear skies and a temperature of 69 degrees.

The Titans enter with a 21-27 overall record after dropping a weekend series to Cal Poly. UC San Diego is 22-25 after winning its series at Cal State Bakersfield, including a 15-2 victory Sunday.

Cal State Fullerton will send right-hander Dylan Smith to the mound. Smith has had an up-and-down May. He took the loss Sunday against Cal Poly, allowing two earned runs over six innings with four strikeouts. On May 3, he surrendered five earned runs in six innings in a loss to UC Davis. His best outing this season came April 26 at UC Santa Barbara, where he threw 6 2/3 shutout innings, allowing no hits while striking out four in a 6-1 win.

For UC San Diego, right-hander Nathan Ries is a key arm out of the bullpen. Ries has been dominant in his last two appearances. On Sunday at Bakersfield, he threw four scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out two. On May 5 against San Diego State, he tossed three scoreless frames with two strikeouts. Ries has not allowed a hit in his last seven innings of work.

The Tritons’ offense exploded Sunday, getting three RBIs from third baseman J.C. Allen, who went 3-for-4.

Cal State Fullerton is 1-4 in its last five games. The Titans dropped two of three to UC Davis before a loss at USC and the series defeat to Cal Poly. Right fielder Paul Contreras had two hits and two RBIs in Sunday’s loss.

UC San Diego is 3-2 in its last five, winning series against Bakersfield and taking a nonconference game from San Diego State.

This is the first of a three-game set. The teams meet again Friday and Saturday.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the projected final score is UC San Diego 5, Cal State Fullerton 3. The ELO system gives the Tritons a 53.4 percent probability of victory.