FAIRFAX, Va. (Interstat) — The George Mason Patriots host the La Salle Explorers on Friday afternoon at Spuhler Field, looking to build on a dominant performance in the series opener. First pitch is scheduled for under cloudy skies with temperatures near 59 degrees.

George Mason (25-24) enters the game with momentum after a 17-5 rout of La Salle on Thursday. The Patriots are seeking their third straight win overall. La Salle (24-29) aims to bounce back after dropping the first game of the series.

Pitchers to watch include George Mason right-hander Logan Rumberg, who earned the win Thursday by tossing seven innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs while striking out seven. Rumberg has been inconsistent recently — he allowed six earned runs in five innings against Dayton on May 8 — but has shown swing-and-miss stuff with nine strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings against Saint Joseph’s on April 17.

La Salle’s Marco Levari also pitched Thursday, throwing four scoreless innings with four strikeouts and no hits allowed in relief. Levari has been effective in limited recent action; he tossed three scoreless frames with four strikeouts against Maryland-Baltimore County on April 28.

Thursday’s game featured offensive fireworks from George Mason. Shortstop Owen Clyne went 4 for 5 with a home run and two RBIs, while right fielder Drew Canody added two hits, including a homer, and three RBIs. For La Salle, third baseman Rueben Livingston homered and drove in a run, and pitcher Matt DeStefanis tossed two-thirds of a scoreless inning with a strikeout.

The series continues with a doubleheader Saturday. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-6 victory for George Mason.