MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Interstat) — Coastal Carolina, riding the momentum of a Sun Belt Conference series sweep against Appalachian State earlier this season, hosts the Mountaineers on Thursday evening at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium.

The Chanticleers (36-20) enter the non-conference matchup with a clear edge in the standings, while the Mountaineers (29-23) seek to reverse a trend that saw Coastal Carolina win all three meetings in Boone, North Carolina, from March 13-15. The most recent contest was an 8-7 Chanticleers victory on March 15.

Appalachian State arrives after a 6-5 loss to Texas State on Wednesday, a game in which right-hander Gage Peterson took a no-decision despite a quality start — 7 innings, 5 hits, 4 earned runs, 6 strikeouts. Peterson, a key figure in the Mountaineers’ rotation, has shown dominance in recent outings, including a 7-inning, 5-0 shutout at Troy on May 2 and a 7-inning, two-run performance against Louisiana-Lafayette on May 9. In four of his last five starts, he has pitched at least 6 innings, compiling 32 strikeouts over that span. His command will be critical for an Appalachian State squad that has lost four of its last five games.

Coastal Carolina counters with a potent offense led by left fielder Blagen Pado. Pado went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs in Coastal Carolina’s 12-11 loss to Louisiana-Lafayette on Wednesday, continuing a streaky season in which he has produced power in bursts. Despite recent inconsistencies — he has four hits in his last 10 games — Pado remains a primary threat in the Chanticleers’ lineup. Coastal Carolina has lost four of its last six games but swept Appalachian State earlier this season, outscoring the Mountaineers 25-17 in the three-game set.

Thursday’s game is a neutral-site contest, offering both teams an opportunity to build postseason momentum. First pitch is scheduled for the evening.