COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Looking for it's third series win in as many attempts, the Tennessee Tech baseball team will host the Falcons of Bowling Green this weekend, beginning the three-game set with a 3 p.m. CST contest on Friday. Saturday's game has a noon start time due a doubleheader by the basketball teams in the evening. Sunday's contest is scheduled for a first-pitch time of 1 p.m.

The Golden Eagles will look for their first victory over the Falcons in program history, having lost the first two meetings between the two teams. Tech enters the contest on the heels of a tough 9-7 loss to in-state rival Middle Tennessee Tuesday.

Following this weekend's series, the Golden Eagles will host their second Big Ten opponent of the season when Michigan State comes to Cookeville for a two-game set starting next Tuesday. Tech opened the season with a three-game series against the Illinois Fighting Illini, taking two out of three games with walk-off home run in Game 3 by junior designated hitter Brandon Thomasson.

SCOUTING THE BOWLING GREEN FALCONS

The Bowling Green Falcons will travel to Cookeville in search of an answer for their recent struggles, having lost their last four contests. After opening the season with two wins over Western Kentucky, the Falcons have dropped one against WKU and were swept against Tech's Ohio Valley Conference rival, Murray State.

Leading the offensive charge for Bowling Green this season are T.J. Losby, Alex Davison, and Patrick Lancaster. All have recorded batting averages above .300 so far this year. Losby leads the group with nine hits, including the team's lone home run. He has also driven in six runners this season while scoring five runs himself.

Pitching for BGSU on Friday is expected to be Cody Apthorpe, who has yet to record a decision in two starts. He has a very solid 1.86 ERA for the year, giving up just two earned runs in 9.2 innings pitched while striking out 11 batters on the year.

Saturday's starter, Mike Frank, has been great for the Falcons, despite owning a 0-1 record. He has pitched 12.0 innings this year, allowing just two earned runs while striking out 12. Frank owns a 1.50 ERA.

Tabbed for Sunday is Trevor Blaylock. He has struggled to start the 2013 season, holding a 9.72 ERA and 0-2 record. He's pitched 8.1 innings for Bowling Green, striking out six batters while giving up nine earned runs and walking five.

CATCHING UP WITH TECH

After smashing 18 home runs just a year ago, junior first baseman Zach Stephens collected his first dinger of the 2013 season on Tuesday, a two-run shot in the first inning against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. The home run sparked a four-run start to the game for the Golden Eagles.

James Abraham grabbed his first triple of the season just one batter later and was driven in by one of Michael Morris' two doubles on the day. Morris doubled again in the second inning, capping a three-run set for Tech that put the Golden Eagles up, 7-1.

Middle Tennessee would rally, using great relief pitching to shut down the potent Tech offense the rest of the game. The Golden Eagles managed just three more hits in the contest as the Blue Raiders rebounded with eight runs to take the contest 9-7.

Expected on the hill for the Golden Eagles over the weekend will be senior Tristan Archer (0-1) and sophomores David Hess (1-0) and Jacob Honea (0-0). Archer, who pitched eight great innings in a no-decision against Niagara last Friday is on the bump for Friday's contest against the Falcons in search of his first win of the 2013 campaign.

Hess will look to repeat his last performance, a six-inning, five-hit, eight-strikeout gem that led to his first W of the season, a 9-0 shutout of the Niagara Purple Eagles. He will pitch Saturday's contest against BGSU. Honea is in search of his first win of the year and will take the hill for the Golden Eagles in Sunday's match-up.