CHARLESTON, Ill. (Interstat) — The Bellarmine Knights and Eastern Illinois Panthers open a three-game series with a doubleheader Saturday at Coaches Stadium at Monier Field, with Game 1 offering a matchup of teams seeking momentum early in the season.

The Panthers (4-6) enter as the projected favorite, with Interstat’s ELO system giving them a 71.80% probability to win and its game simulator predicting a 4-2 victory. The Knights (2-9) are looking to snap a five-game skid, having been outscored 48-11 during the stretch. Eastern Illinois has lost four straight, including a 20-15 shootout at Northern Kentucky last Sunday.

A player to watch for Eastern Illinois is shortstop Peyton Wilson, who went 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs in that high-scoring loss. He has driven in seven runs over his last five games.

Bellarmine will counter with reliever Cade Rusch, who has been a bright spot in the bullpen. Over his last three appearances spanning four innings, Rusch has allowed just one earned run while striking out seven and surrendering zero hits.

The Knights fell 6-4 at Saint Louis in their last outing on Feb. 28, with AJ Swader driving in three runs. Eastern Illinois dropped the series at Northern Kentucky, though first baseman Tyler Castro collected three hits and two RBIs in the finale.

First pitch for the opener is scheduled for under partly cloudy skies and 70-degree temperatures. The series concludes Sunday in Louisville, Kentucky.