CONWAY, Ark. (Interstat) — The Central Arkansas Bears look to build on their recent success against ASUN rival Lipscomb when the teams meet Saturday afternoon at Bear Stadium.

Central Arkansas (30-23) enters the game with a 2-1 lead in the weekend series after a 4-1 win Thursday. The Bears have won four of the past five meetings overall, including a three-game sweep at Lipscomb in April.

Lipscomb (24-24) will send right-hander Alexander Llinas to the mound. Llinas took the loss Thursday despite not allowing a hit over seven innings. He gave up four earned runs, walked four and struck out four. In his previous four starts, Llinas recorded three wins, including a six-inning, two-run outing at Eastern Kentucky and a five-inning, three-run effort against Bellarmine.

Central Arkansas counters with right-hander Denver Hamilton, who earned the win Thursday by allowing one earned run on seven hits over six innings with two strikeouts. Hamilton has been sharp in recent outings, throwing seven scoreless innings at Austin Peay on May 2 and seven innings of two-run ball at Bellarmine on April 26.

The Bears’ offense has provided consistent support. In Thursday’s win, the defense and bullpen also shined: Hunter Alexander threw two hitless innings with four strikeouts, and Silas Cowgill closed with a perfect ninth.

Lipscomb’s lineup has struggled against Central Arkansas pitching. The Bisons scored only one run on Thursday and have been held to five or fewer runs in four of the past five matchups. In Thursday’s loss, Cam Pruitt provided the lone RBI, going 2-for-4.

The weather forecast calls for 87-degree temperatures with clouds at game time.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-6 victory for Central Arkansas, though Interstat’s ELO system gives Lipscomb a 51.9 percent win probability.

First pitch is scheduled for the afternoon with the potential to stretch into the evening. The game is the third of a four-game ASUN series, with the finale set for Sunday.