AP Sports Preview: Navy at Bucknell

LEWISBURG, Pa. (Interstat) — Navy (29-14) visits Bucknell (21-21) on Monday afternoon for a non-conference baseball matchup at Depew Field.

The Midshipmen enter winners of three straight, including a doubleheader sweep of the Bison on Sunday. Right-hander Owen Phypers will be a key player to watch after he threw five scoreless innings in Navy’s 5-3 victory in the second game of that twinbill, allowing no hits while striking out five. Phypers has been inconsistent this season — he yielded eight earned runs in seven innings against Lafayette on April 12 — but his dominant outing Sunday suggests he has regained his form. In his last four starts, the junior has a 5.40 ERA with 20 strikeouts over 20 innings.

Bucknell, meanwhile, looks to bounce back after losing both ends of Sunday’s doubleheader, 9-4 and 5-3. The Bison have alternated wins and losses over their past 10 games and are seeking their first win over Navy since March 22, when they took the opener of a three-game series at Annapolis, 3-1. Navy won the next two games of that set, 8-3 and 7-3.

Right-hander Brady Hoar, a probable starter for Bucknell, also pitched Sunday, taking the loss in the 5-3 game. He lasted six innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits while striking out four. Hoar has been solid lately, posting a 3.38 ERA over his last two outings, though his command has been an issue — he has walked 10 batters in his last four starts covering 23.1 innings.

Navy’s offense has been timely. In Sunday’s 5-3 win, designated hitter Patrick Walsh went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while reliever Matt Archibald threw four scoreless innings for the save. The Midshipmen have won 10 of their last 12 games, including a four-game sweep at Holy Cross last weekend.

Bucknell’s lineup has leaned on right fielder John Calabrese, who drove in two runs in Sunday’s 9-4 loss, and pitcher Jake Schultz, who tossed 4.1 innings of two-run ball. The Bison split a midweek game at Penn State (a 9-7 defeat) and took one of four at Army on April 17-19.

The game is the final matchup of the regular season between these Patriot League rivals. Navy will host Manhattan on Wednesday, while Bucknell travels to Cornell on Tuesday.

First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. EDT.