NACOGDOCHES, Texas (Interstat) — The Houston Cougars look to snap a seven-game skid Tuesday when they visit the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks in a non-conference matchup at Jaycees Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. under a forecast of 87 degrees and rain.

Houston (18-24) has lost three straight to TCU by a combined 26-8 margin and nine of its last 10 overall. The only victory in that stretch came April 21 at Rice, a 4-3 decision. The Cougars’ bullpen has been a bright spot amid the struggles, particularly the recent work of right-hander Diego Luzardo.

Luzardo, a player to watch for the Cougars, has not allowed a hit or an earned run over his last three relief appearances. He threw one inning of hitless ball with a strikeout Sunday in a 14-2 loss at TCU, and followed that with a third of an inning in an 8-3 loss Friday. On April 14, he tossed two-thirds of an inning at Texas A&M, again keeping opponents off the scoreboard.

Stephen F. Austin (22-21) enters on a high note after an 11-8 win Sunday at Northwestern State. The Lumberjacks have alternated wins and losses over their last six games, dropping two of three to Nicholls State before splitting a four-game set with the Demons.

Right-handed reliever Reid Bowyer, a player to watch for the Lumberjacks, delivered a strong performance in that Sunday win, firing two scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts. Over his last two outings, Bowyer has allowed one earned run over 4 2/3 innings with four strikeouts. Earlier this month, he threw two-scoreless innings in a 5-3 win against Texas-Rio Grande Valley.

The Lumberjacks’ offense showed its potential Sunday, with first baseman Mark Henning going 4 for 5 with two RBIs and shortstop Coby DeJesus adding two hits and two RBIs.

Houston’s recent struggles at the plate have been pronounced. The Cougars managed just two runs Sunday and have scored three or fewer in eight of their last 10 games. Houston will look to reverse that trend against an SFA pitching staff that surrendered 24 runs in an April 18 loss to Nicholls State but has been effective in other recent outings.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 5-2 victory for the Lumberjacks.

Following Tuesday’s game, Houston returns home to host McNeese State on Wednesday. Stephen F. Austin is off until Friday, when it opens a three-game home series against McNeese State.