LEWISBURG, Pa. (Interstat) — The Bucknell Bison host the Holy Cross Crusaders in a Patriot League baseball matchup Monday afternoon at Eugene B. Depew Field. First pitch is scheduled for 81 degrees with cloudy skies.

Bucknell (26-22) enters the game with three more wins than Holy Cross (23-27) but lost two of its last three home games to Navy, including a 6-4 win Monday that snapped a brief skid. The Bison took three of four from Holy Cross in their previous series April 10-12 in Lewisburg, outscoring the Crusaders 26-20 over the four games.

The pitching matchup features two of the Patriot League’s most effective arms this month. Holy Cross right-hander Jake Lenahan (5.2 innings per start, 0.68 ERA over his last three outings) is coming off a dominant performance at Army on May 10, striking out 10 over 7.1 innings of two-run ball while allowing no hits. The senior has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his last three starts, striking out 22 across 19.1 innings.

Bucknell counters with reliever Everett Garber, who has been sharp in limited recent work. The right-hander threw 2.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts against Navy on May 11, lowering his season ERA. Garber struggled in his previous appearance, allowing an unearned run in two-thirds of an inning at Lehigh on May 3.

Holy Cross is coming off a series win at Army, taking two of three. The Crusaders won Sunday’s finale 6-2 behind Lenahan and designated hitter Gianni Royer, who homered and drove in three runs. Third baseman Ryan Grundy added two RBIs.

Bucknell’s offense was powered Monday by a balanced attack against Navy. Relievers Brady Hoar (5.2 innings, three earned runs) and Hadley Maxwell (one perfect inning) combined with Garber to hold the Midshipmen in check.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-6 Holy Cross victory, but the Bison have won six of their last eight at Depew Field.

The teams meet again Tuesday in the second game of the series, then conclude the regular-season set May 29.