JACKSON, Miss. (Interstat) — The Southwestern Athletic Conference series between Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Jackson State concludes Saturday evening at Braddy Field, with both teams seeking to claim the rubber match of the three-game set.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. under clear skies, with temperatures forecast at 87 degrees. The Golden Lions (22-31) and Tigers (22-24) enter the game after splitting the opening two contests. Jackson State won 6-4 on Friday, while Arkansas-Pine Bluff took the opener 8-6 on Thursday.

The Tigers will look to Jayden Lopez on the mound. The right-hander earned the win Friday, tossing seven innings and allowing three earned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. Lopez has shown dominant stuff this season, striking out 15 batters over seven scoreless innings against Alcorn State on May 3, but he also has been prone to blow-up innings, surrendering eight earned runs in separate starts against Mississippi Valley State and Alabama A&M.

For the Golden Lions, Jordan Medellin is a key bullpen arm. He pitched three scoreless innings Friday, yielding no hits with one strikeout. Medellin has been used extensively in relief, working multiple innings in five of his last eight appearances. He enters with an erratic recent ledger, having allowed seven earned runs in a 2/3-inning outing against Southern on April 24, but also delivering scoreless outings against Bethune-Cookman and Texas Southern.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s offense was sparked Thursday by Zyon Hamilton, who homered and drove in two runs. The Golden Lions have scored at least eight runs in four of their last seven games, though they allowed 15 or more runs in two of those contests.

Jackson State’s Tyree Reed went 2-for-3 with an RBI on Friday, providing support for Lopez.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-4 victory for Jackson State.

The game marks the final regular-season meeting between the SWAC rivals this season.