MURRAY, Ky. (Interstat) — The North Alabama Lions and the Murray State Racers will open a midweek nonconference series Tuesday evening at Reagan Field.

First pitch is set for 6 p.m. under cloudy skies with a temperature of 69 degrees.

North Alabama (25-25 overall) arrives in Murray after splitting a three-game road series at Central Arkansas. The Lions won the finale 12-4 on Saturday, powered by catcher Will Millard (3-for-4, home run, two RBIs) and left fielder Nash Rippen (2-for-5, home run, three RBIs). Pitcher Tripp Patterson threw 7 2/3 scoreless innings in that victory. The Lions dropped the first two games of that series, losing 4-3 in 10 innings on Friday and 11-6 on Saturday.

Murray State (27-24) hosts the Lions after taking the final game of a three-game set against Indiana State on Sunday, winning 8-7 in 10 innings. Left fielder Connor Chisolm went 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBIs in that contest. Center fielder Kainen Jorge added a homer and two RBIs. The Racers dropped the first two games of that series, 10-8 on Saturday and 3-2 on Friday.

Players to watch

North Alabama right-hander Reese Young has been effective over his past four appearances. The reliever worked 4.0 scoreless, hitless innings in a win at Eastern Kentucky on April 26, then threw 3.1 innings of one-hit ball in a loss at Central Arkansas on May 9. He also had a scoreless inning against Tennessee Tech on April 22.

Murray State’s Chisolm has been one of the Racers’ most dangerous hitters. Over his past four games, the outfielder is 9-for-18 with two home runs and four RBIs, including his three-hit, two-homer performance Sunday.

Series history

The teams met earlier this season on Feb. 18 in Florence, Alabama, where North Alabama routed Murray State 15-5.

Projection

The Interstat game simulator projects a 5-3 North Alabama victory.

Up next

North Alabama returns home to host Austin Peay for a three-game series beginning Thursday. Murray State travels to Evansville for a three-game set starting Thursday.