FLORENCE, Ala. (Interstat) — The Austin Peay Governors and North Alabama Lions close their three-game ASUN series Saturday afternoon at Braly Municipal Stadium, with first pitch scheduled under partly cloudy skies and a temperature near 80 degrees.

North Alabama (26-26, 14-12 ASUN) enters after a 9-2 victory Thursday in the series opener. Friday’s game was not played. The Lions sit at .500 overall and need a strong finish to bolster their conference tournament positioning.

First baseman Petey Craska is the player to watch for the home side. In Thursday’s win over Austin Peay, Craska went 2-for-3 with two home runs and five RBIs. The performance continued a power surge that included a three-homer, six-RBI game against Bellarmine on May 1. Over his last 10 games, Craska has four multi-hit outings and 14 RBIs.

Against the Governors this season, Craska is hitting .400 (4-for-10) with two homers and six RBIs in three games. He also had a hit and an RBI in North Alabama’s 15-5 win April 12.

Gavin Oswald (5.1 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 K) was the winning pitcher Thursday. Will Millard added two hits, including a home run, and four RBIs.

Austin Peay (24-28, 11-15) is 2-8 in its last 10 games and has lost five of six to North Alabama this season, including three straight. The Governors are 3-8 in ASUN road games.

Right-hander Chance Cox is a pitcher to watch. In Thursday’s loss, Cox worked 4.1 innings, allowing no hits and one earned run with four strikeouts. Over his last three appearances, spanning 7.1 innings, Cox has surrendered one earned run and struck out six while allowing two hits. He has not allowed a hit in two of those three outings.

Offensively, Paris Pridgen drove in two runs Thursday, and Cole Johnson had two hits.

The Governors dropped two of three at home to Eastern Kentucky last weekend, then lost 7-5 at Southeast Missouri State on Wednesday. After Saturday’s game, Austin Peay closes the regular season with a three-game home series against Bellarmine.

The Lions took three of four from Central Arkansas on the road last weekend before falling 9-5 at Murray State on Tuesday. North Alabama plays its final four regular-season games at home, including a three-game set against Lipscomb starting next week.

The Interstat game simulator projects a 5-4 victory for North Alabama.

First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.