Baseball Makes Trip to Lafayette This Weekend

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell baseball team nears the end of an 11-game road stretch with its final road series of the Patriot League regular season this weekend when it travels to Lafayette for a four-game set at Kamine Stadium. All four games will air live on the Patriot League Network.

Bucknell (14-21, 5-3 PL) enters the weekend in a three-way tie for first place in the conference standings with Navy and Holy Cross. The Bison captured three of four from Lehigh in their first Patriot League series and then split a four-game set at Army West Point last weekend. Bucknell is coming off an 8-1 mid-week loss at Penn State.

Lafayette (10-20, 4-4 PL) had its Tuesday contest at Monmouth rained out. The Leopards opened the Patriot League schedule strong two weeks ago by taking three of four from Army West Point, but then lost three of four to Navy this past weekend. The Leopards will recognize their seniors during Senior Day ceremonies on Sunday.

Lafayette holds a 112-66 edge in the all-time series, including winning three of four last year at Depew Field. The Bison won three of four the last time they played at Kamine Stadium in 2014.

Junior center fielder Brett Smith continues to lead the Bison in hitting with a .345 average. He brings a career-best 12-game hitting streak into the weekend. The 2014 Patriot League Rookie of the Year has at least one hit in 24 of his last 25 games.

Sam Clark, who is hitting .480 in Patriot League play, and Spencer Stokes, who has a team-high 10 RBIs in conference play, have also been hot at the plate in recent weeks.

Bucknell is expected to utilize the same starting rotation it did in its first two Patriot League series. Andrew Andreychik, Mike Castellani, Dan Keller and Jack Grabek have pitched 49.0 of a possible 62.0 innings in Patriot League play. Keller has been particularly effective the last two weekends, allowing just one earned run in 14.0 innings while picking up the first two wins of his career.

Lafayette is third in the Patriot League in hitting with a .266 average, but the Leopards are last in ERA (6.36). Opponents are hitting .300 against Lafayette hurlers.

Steven Cohen is Lafayette's top offensive threat. The sophomore is the only Leopard to start all 30 games and is hitting .339 with one home run and 26 RBIs. He is tied for fourth in the Patriot League in RBIs.

Following this weekend's series, Bucknell will play at Penn State on Tuesday (April 19) before returning to Depew Field for the final nine games of the regular season. The Bison will host Holy Cross (April 23-24) and Navy (April 30-May 1) in their final two Patriot League series.

Probable Starting Pitchers:
Game 1: RHP Andrew Andreychik (3-3, 5.44 ERA, 32 K, 44.2 IP) vs. RHP David Bednar (3-2, 3.48 ERA, 44 K, 41.1 IP)
Game 2: LHP Mike Castellani (3-3, 4.60 ERA, 25 K, 43.0 IP) vs. RHP Mitch Leeds (1-2, 7.36 ERA, 31 K, 29.1 IP)
Game 3: RHP Dan Keller (2-3, 3.05 ERA, 33 K, 44.1 IP) vs. LHP John Cain (1-4, 6.51 ERA, 31 K, 27.2 IP)
Game 4: LHP Jack Grabek (1-1, 2.59 ERA, 22 K, 31.1 IP) vs. RHP Trevor Houck (0-2, 6.10 ERA, 21 K, 31.0 IP)

Bucknell Baseball's 2016 Weekly Awards
Patriot League Rookie of the Week: Jeff Gottesman (Feb. 22), Jack Grabek (March 28)
Bison Athlete of the Week: Brett Smith (April 4)

Current Bison on Program Career Top-10 Lists
Andrew Andreychik: Shutouts (t-1st, 5), Fewest Walks/9 in. (6th, 2.27), Wins (t-6th, 16), Games Started (t-7th, 34), Innings Pitched (9th, 213.2), Strikeouts (t-9th, 156)
Mike Castellani: ERA (t-6th, 3.27)
Max Kra: Appearances (t-10th, 52)
Jon Mayer: Hit by Pitch (t-9th, 22)
Joe Ogren: Hit by Pitch (1st, 37), Walks (2nd, 78), Games Started (5th, 173), Doubles (5th, 42), Games Played (t-5th, 174), At Bats (6th, 608), Sac Flies (t-8th, 8), Hits (9th, 182)
Danny Rafferty: Saves (8th, 6)
Brett Smith: Triples (t-7th, 11)