EASTON, Pa. (Interstat) — The long-standing Patriot League rivalry between Lafayette and Lehigh resumes Friday as the Leopards host the Mountain Hawks in the opener of a three-game weekend series at Kamine Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for late afternoon under cloudy skies with a forecast temperature of 87 degrees.

Both teams enter the series seeking momentum in difficult seasons. Lehigh (9-24) arrives after a historic 38-6 road rout of Coppin State on Tuesday. Lafayette (7-26) looks to rebound from a 15-5 midweek loss at Saint Peter’s.

A key figure for the Mountain Hawks is first baseman Owen Walewander, who powered Tuesday’s offensive explosion by going 4 for 5 with a home run and eight RBIs. In his last 10 games, Walewander has three home runs and 17 RBIs, though his production has been inconsistent.

The Leopards will counter with right-hander Trey Zaffiro, a player to watch out of the bullpen. Zaffiro has shown swing-and-miss ability, striking out five in 2 2/3 innings against Saint Peter’s, but has struggled with command at times this season.

Despite Lafayette holding home-field advantage, statistical models favor Lehigh. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 4-1 Lehigh victory, and its ELO rating system gives the Mountain Hawks a 58.1% probability of winning the series opener.

The teams will meet again for a doubleheader Saturday before concluding the series Sunday afternoon.