Preview: Lehigh at Navy in Patriot League Baseball

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Interstat) — The Navy Midshipmen will look to continue their dominance over the Lehigh Mountain Hawks when the Patriot League rivals conclude their weekend series Sunday afternoon at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. under cloudy skies with a game-time temperature near 76 degrees.

Navy (18-11) has taken the first two games of the series decisively, winning 8-0 and 8-3 on Saturday. The Midshipmen have won four of the five meetings between the teams this season.

The series finale features a compelling pitching rematch from March 13, when Lehigh’s Sam Fairhurst outdueled Navy’s Matt Archibald in a 3-1 Mountain Hawks victory. Fairhurst (1-4) pitched five innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts in that win. The left-hander has been a bright spot for struggling Lehigh (5-21), allowing just one earned run over his last 14 1/3 innings spanning three starts, though he received three consecutive no-decisions in losses.

Archibald (4-1) has been nearly untouchable, especially against Lehigh. The right-hander threw eight no-hit innings with nine strikeouts in a 3-0 win over the Mountain Hawks on March 14. He followed that with 7 2/3 strong innings in Saturday’s 8-3 victory, fanning 15 batters. In his two starts against Lehigh this season, Archibald has allowed two earned runs over 15 2/3 innings with 24 strikeouts.

Navy’s offense was led Saturday by designated hitter Andrew Manning, who drove in three runs, and left fielder Chris Klug, who went 3 for 4 with an RBI. Lehigh’s Aidan Quinn provided a solo home run in the nightcap.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, Sunday’s contest is projected to be a tight pitcher’s duel, with a final score of Navy 3, Lehigh 2.

Following the series, Navy will host Maryland on Thursday before a four-game set with Lafayette. Lehigh returns home to prepare for a four-game series against Army next weekend.