Preview: Lehigh at Navy in Patriot League Baseball Doubleheader Opener

CAPE SAINT CLAIRE, Md. (Interstat) — Navy looks to continue its strong season and avenge an early conference series loss when it hosts struggling Lehigh in the opener of a Patriot League doubleheader on Saturday at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium.

The Midshipmen (16-11) enter with a winning record and sit in a favorable position in the conference standings. The Mountain Hawks (5-19) seek to reverse a difficult start, though they took two of three from Navy in Bethlehem last month.

Game 1 on Saturday will be followed by the second contest of the twin bill. First pitch is scheduled under cloudy skies with a temperature near 71 degrees.

A key matchup will feature Lehigh’s hot-hitting Owen Walewander against a Navy pitching staff anchored by Owen Phypers. Walewander, a left fielder, is coming off a powerful performance in a 16-10 loss at Saint Joseph’s on Tuesday, where he went 3 for 5 with two home runs and five RBIs. In his last 10 games, he has four homers and 16 RBIs, including an eight-RBI game against Bucknell on March 29.

For Navy, right-hander Owen Phypers is a player to watch. He pitched five no-hit innings in relief against Army last Sunday, though he allowed three earned runs. In his last start against Lehigh on March 15, he struck out nine over 4 2/3 innings but took the loss in a 3-1 defeat.

The Midshipmen won the middle game of that March series 3-0 but dropped the other two contests by identical 3-1 scores.

According to Interstat, Navy is projected as a solid favorite with a 62.3% win probability. The service’s game simulator predicts a 3-2 victory for the Midshipmen.

Following Saturday’s doubleheader, the teams will conclude their four-game weekend series on Sunday.