DELAND, Fla. (Interstat) — The Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (36-21) face the North Alabama Lions (30-27) in an afternoon game Saturday at Melching Field at Conrad Park.

Florida Gulf Coast enters having won its most recent game, a 3-1 victory at North Florida on Friday. Right-hander Hunter Possehl tossed four scoreless, hitless innings with three strikeouts, while Ryan Rushing added 3.1 scoreless innings with six strikeouts. Shortstop Wilfred Gonzalez went 1 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs.

The Eagles have won four of their last six games, including a doubleheader sweep of Central Arkansas on May 21. Their pitching staff has been solid, allowing three earned runs or fewer in five of those six contests. However, they have also dropped two of three games at Jacksonville earlier in May.

North Alabama is coming off a 4-3, 14-inning loss at Lipscomb on Friday. Right-hander Reese Young started and threw 6.1 scoreless, hitless innings, allowing two unearned runs with three strikeouts. Tyler Rice (2.2 innings, no hits, one strikeout) and Justus Agosto (2.1 innings, one unearned run, two strikeouts) followed in relief.

The Lions have been inconsistent, alternating wins and losses over their last five games. They routed North Florida 11-4 on May 21 and blanked Jacksonville 5-0 on May 20, but also lost a 14-inning heartbreaker at Lipscomb.

Players to watch

Possehl has been a key arm for Florida Gulf Coast. Over his last five appearances, he has posted a 1.54 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 23.2 innings. In his most recent start against North Florida on Friday, he threw four perfect innings. Against Stetson on May 3, he allowed one unearned run over 5.1 innings with six strikeouts.

Young has been North Alabama’s most reliable starter. Over his last five outings, he has a 2.48 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 21.1 innings. He threw 6.1 scoreless, hitless frames against Lipscomb on Friday, and had a four-inning, one-run performance at Eastern Kentucky on April 26.

Both teams will look to gain momentum as the regular season winds down. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.