Baseball Aims for PL Regular-Season Title This Weekend at Home vs. Holy Cross

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell baseball team enters its final weekend of the regular season in first place in the Patriot League standings by one-half game over second-place Army. A strong weekend showing at Depew Field against Holy Cross will help put the Bison in position to win their first outright regular-season title since 2003.

Bucknell will host the Crusaders in doubleheaders both Saturday and Sunday starting at noon. Members of the 1969 Bucknell baseball team will throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Saturday, while Senior Day will take place prior to Sunday's first game. The first 200 fans to arrive at Saturday's doubleheader will receive a voucher that can be redeemed at the concession stand for a free pretzel in recognition of National Pretzel Day.

All four of this weekend's games will air live on 90.5 WVBU FM and BucknellBison.com.

Bucknell (22-16-1, 12-4 PL) is 14-5 in its last 19 games and has posted its most wins in a season since 2011. The Bison have their most Patriot League victories since going 13-7 in 2009 and a sweep this weekend will give them their most PL wins, eclipsing the 15-5 mark the 2003 team produced.

Bucknell has won two outright (1996, 2003) Patriot League titles and shared four others (1999, 2001, 2006, 2009). Army is one-half game behind and will play a four-game series against Navy. The Black Knights also have one game against Lehigh remaining on their schedule.

The Bison are guaranteed of a top-two finish in the Patriot League standings, meaning they will be hosting a best-of-three Patriot League Tournament Semifinal Series at Depew Field May 10-11. Bucknell has not hosted a conference tournament game since 2009.

Bucknell holds a 49-43 edge in the all-time series against Holy Cross. The Crusaders have won 11 of the last 13 meetings, including two Patriot League Tournament games last May.

The Bison, who had their mid-week doubleheader against St. Bonaventure cancelled due to rain, enter the weekend hitting .252 with 159 runs scored. They own a 3.63 ERA and have five shutouts and 10 complete games. Bryson Hough, Dan Weigel, Andrew Andreychik and Xavier Hammond have combined to start all 16 conference games and they are the projected starters on the mound this weekend.

Holy Cross brings a 12-28 overall record into the weekend. The Crusaders are 2-11 in their last 13 games and are in sixth place in the Patriot League standings with a 3-11 mark. Holy Cross is hitting .261 as a team, but its 5.02 team ERA is last in the league.

Bucknell will take a nearly two-week break for final exams before its next outing, which will be the Patriot League Semifinal Series, May 10-11. The Bison will be the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the four-team field. The best-of-three Championship Series will take place the following weekend at the home field of the higher remaining seed.

Weekend Pitching Matchups
Saturday Game 1: RHP Bryson Hough (5-3, 4.83 ERA, 34 K, 59.2 IP) vs. RHP Ben White (0-4, 3.20 ERA, 36 K, 45.0 IP)
Saturday Game 2: LHP Dan Weigel (4-4, 3.03 ERA, 33 K, 62.1 IP) vs. RHP Donny Murray (2-5, 7.11 ERA, 29 K, 38.0 IP)
Sunday Game 1: RHP Andrew Andreychik (5-3, 3.51 ERA, 38 K, 48.2 IP) vs. RHP Nate Walker (2-4, 5.68 ERA, 23 K, 31.2 IP)
Sunday Game 2: LHP Xavier Hammond (2-4, 3.74 ERA, 31 K, 53.0 IP) vs. RHP Phil Reese (2-4, 4.07 ERA, 22 K, 42.0 IP)

Bucknell Baseball's 2014 Weekly Awards
Patriot League Player of the Week: Corey Furman (March 4, March 10), Brett Smith (April 1), Anthony Gingerelli (April 7)
Patriot League Pitcher of the Week: Andrew Andreychik (March 24, April 1), Xavier Hammond (April 14)
Bison Athlete of the Week: Andrew Andreychik (March 24, April 1)

Bucknell Baseball Home Radio Broadcast Schedule
(Games air live on WVBU 90.5 and BucknellBison.com)
~~March 23: vs. Penn State (DH), 12 p.m.~~
~~March 31: vs. Navy (DH), 12 p.m.~~
~~April 5: vs. Lehigh (DH), 12 p.m.~~
~~April 6: vs. Lehigh (DH), 12 p.m.~~
April 26: vs. Holy Cross (DH), 12 p.m.
April 27: vs. Holy Cross (DH), 12 p.m.