Rain Threatens Midweek Clash Between Jaspers, Leopards

EASTON, Pa. (Interstat) — A pair of teams looking to build on rare recent victories meet Wednesday when the Manhattan Jaspers visit the Lafayette Leopards in a nonconference afternoon game at Kamine Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m., though forecasts call for rain and a temperature of 76 degrees.

Manhattan (10-14) enters having dropped two of three at Merrimack over the weekend, including a 13-1 loss Sunday. The Jaspers’ bullpen, however, showed a bright spot in that defeat with a scoreless inning from reliever Andrew Brown. The right-hander has been a consistent arm, not allowing an earned run in his last three appearances spanning 4 1/3 innings.

Lafayette (6-17) is coming off one of its best performances of the season, an 11-1 road rout of Villanova on Tuesday. Catcher Kyle McKernan powered the offense, launching a grand slam as part of a four-RBI day. The Leopards will look to carry that momentum into their final nonconference tune-up before Patriot League play resumes this weekend.

The Jaspers hold the edge in overall record, but both clubs have struggled for consistency. Manhattan took two of three from Quinnipiac in late March but was swept at Fairfield. Lafayette’s win over Villanova snapped a four-game skid.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a close contest, favoring Manhattan 5-4.

Following Wednesday’s game, Manhattan hosts Sacred Heart for a three-game series starting Thursday. Lafayette opens a Patriot League series against Bucknell on Saturday.