BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — A surging Virginia Military Institute team looks to continue its Southern Conference success when it visits Samford for an afternoon game Saturday at Joe Lee Griffin Stadium.

The Keydets (24-8) enter the contest with the league’s best overall record and are coming off a 10-7 midweek victory over George Washington where Cole Cook drove in five runs. VMI fell to Samford 1-0 in a pitchers’ duel to open the series Friday night.

Cook, a left fielder, has been a key offensive catalyst. He is 6 for 12 with seven RBIs over his last three games, raising his average after a brief slump. His performance will be central against a Samford (14-17) squad seeking consistency.

The Bulldogs’ Jackson Harris provides a bright spot, coming off a 2-for-2 performance with an RBI in a 16-2 loss at Alabama on Tuesday. The first baseman is hitting .500 (4 for 8) over his last three contests.

Weather should not be a factor, with partly cloudy skies and a game-time temperature of 76 degrees forecast.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-5 victory for Virginia Military Institute. Following Saturday’s game, the series concludes Sunday afternoon.