MESA, Ariz. (Interstat) — California Baptist and Tarleton State will meet Friday in the Western Athletic Conference Baseball Championship at Hohokam Stadium, with the top-seeded Lancers looking to fend off the second-seeded Texans in a matchup of 40-win teams.

California Baptist (44-13) carries the conference’s best record into the afternoon-evening contest after outlasting Utah Tech 10-7 in 14 innings Thursday. Catcher Matt Chavez went 1-for-8 with a home run and three RBIs in that victory, though the junior has been streaky at the plate. Over his last 10 games, Chavez is batting .167 (4-for-24) with one homer and four RBIs, including hitless outings in four of his past five starts.

Tarleton State (35-19) counters with right-hander Cort Lowry, who threw seven innings of one-hit, shutout ball in Thursday’s 9-0 win over Sacramento State. The senior struck out three and retired 17 consecutive batters at one point. Over his last four appearances, Lowry has a 0.68 ERA over 13⅓ innings, allowing two hits and one earned run with seven strikeouts.

The teams split a three-game series in Stephenville, Texas, in April. Tarleton State won the first two games in walk-off fashion — 3-2 on April 18 and 7-6 on April 19 — after losing the opener 12-1.

California Baptist’s offense has averaged 6.6 runs over its last 10 games, though it struggled against Sacramento State in consecutive losses on May 8-9 (19-2 and 6-5). Tarleton State has won three of its last five, with its pitching staff allowing two earned runs or fewer in three of those contests.

The Lancers have won 10 of their last 12, while Tarleton State is 6-4 over its last 10.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, California Baptist is projected to win 8-7.

First pitch is scheduled for the afternoon session, followed by the evening bracket game.