Patriot League Rivals Holy Cross, Lehigh Set for Sunday Rubber Match

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (Interstat) — The Holy Cross Crusaders and Lehigh Mountain Hawks will conclude a three-game Patriot League series Sunday at Legacy Park, with both teams seeking momentum amid slow starts to the season.

First pitch is scheduled for the afternoon. The forecast calls for cloudy skies and a temperature of 49 degrees.

Holy Cross (7-13) evened the series with a 6-4 victory Saturday. Lehigh (4-13) won the opener of Saturday’s doubleheader.

A key figure in the Crusaders’ win was reliever Jake Lenahan, who threw three hitless innings with two strikeouts. Over his last five appearances, Lenahan has allowed just one earned run in 12 1/3 innings, striking out 17. He will be a player to watch out of the bullpen.

Lehigh will look for a stronger outing from right-hander Cole Leaman, who took the loss Saturday after allowing one earned run over three innings. In his prior start on March 1, Leaman threw five scoreless innings with six strikeouts against George Mason.

Both teams have struggled for consistency. Holy Cross had lost eight of nine before the current series, while Lehigh has dropped 10 of its last 12.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, Holy Cross is projected to win 4-2.

Following Sunday’s contest, Holy Cross will host Harvard on Tuesday. Lehigh is scheduled to play Fairleigh Dickinson at home Wednesday.