AP Sports Preview

WEST POINT, N.Y. (Interstat) — Army hosts Holy Cross in a Patriot League baseball game Saturday afternoon at Johnson Stadium at Doubleday Field.

The Black Knights (28-18) enter with a 65.5% win probability per Interstat’s ELO system, which projects a 7-5 Army victory. Holy Cross (21-27) looks to reverse a season trend of struggles against its service academy rival, though the Crusaders won three of the last six meetings, including a 10-4 victory at West Point on March 15.

First pitch is scheduled for the afternoon. The forecast calls for 59 degrees and rain.

Army catcher Jack Quinlan is a player to watch. In his most recent game, a 16-4 win at Navy on Sunday, Quinlan went 2-for-4 with a home run and six RBIs. Over his last two games against the Midshipmen, he totaled three hits, including the home run, and seven RBIs. Quinlan had a quieter series against Bucknell in mid-April, but his power production makes him a threat in the middle of the order.

Holy Cross right-hander Henry Harding is a key reliever for the Crusaders. In his last outing May 3 at Lafayette, Harding threw 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing no hits with three strikeouts. He has been uneven this season, including a May 3 start at Bucknell where he allowed five earned runs in 2.1 innings despite no hits. In four of his last five appearances, however, Harding has not allowed an earned run.

Holy Cross comes off a 3-1 loss at Lafayette on Sunday. The Crusaders got a strong pitching performance from Jake Lenahan (5.0 IP, 0 H, 2 ER, 6 K) but managed only two hits. Army swept its series at Navy, outscoring the Midshipmen 25-15 over the weekend. Trey Ates threw five innings of three-run ball in Sunday’s win, striking out three.

The series continues with games Sunday and Monday at West Point.