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ROCK HILL, S.C. (Interstat) — The Big South Conference series between Longwood and Winthrop concludes Saturday with a matinee matchup at Winthrop Ballpark, as the Eagles seek to clinch the series after a lopsided victory and the Lancers aim to salvage a split.

First pitch is set for 2 p.m., with the forecast calling for 75-degree temperatures and cloudy skies.

Winthrop (32-22 overall) enters the game after a 23-5 dismantling of Longwood on Friday, a win that evened the series after the Lancers took Thursday’s opener 8-2. The Eagles have won five of their last eight overall but dropped three of four on the road to High Point last weekend.

Longwood (29-23) has struggled recently, losing seven of its last nine games, including four straight — three to Charleston Southern and Friday’s blowout loss. The Lancers did manage a series win at High Point earlier in May, taking two of three.

Player to Watch – Longwood: Right-hander Jaxon Lloyd is expected to see action. In Friday’s loss, Lloyd worked three scoreless innings of relief, allowing no hits and striking out two. He has been erratic recently, giving up seven earned runs in four innings against Charleston Southern on May 8, but he tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts in a win at High Point on May 1.

Player to Watch – Winthrop: Shortstop Chazz Grossington has been a catalyst at the plate. He went 4 for 6 with five RBIs in Friday’s win, his second big performance in the series after going 0 for 2 in Thursday’s loss. Over his last 10 games, Grossington is hitting .333 with seven RBIs, though he has also endured several hitless outings.

Head-to-Head: Longwood and Winthrop have split the first two games of this three-game set. The Lancers won 8-2 on Thursday behind a strong pitching performance from Jackson Nash (2 1/3 scoreless innings, five strikeouts) and a two-RBI day from first baseman Jon Howard. Winthrop answered with a 23-5 rout Friday, powered by Grossington’s five RBIs and a five-RBI day from third baseman Colin Crowley, who homered. Pitcher Luke Earnhardt earned the win with 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball.

Projection: Interstat’s game simulator forecasts a 4-3 victory for Longwood, but the ELO system gives Winthrop a 67.3 percent probability to win.

The series finale will determine which team takes the season series advantage. Longwood will look to even its Big South record, while Winthrop hopes to build momentum heading into the conference tournament.