The Patriot League’s baseball championship will culminate in a best-of-three series that begins on Monday, May 18, with Bucknell hosting Holy Cross at Depew Field at Marren Park. The Bison earned the league’s second seed after a dramatic final weekend, while the Crusaders secured the top seed by ending Army’s six-year reign as champions.
Bucknell’s return to the championship round marks its first appearance since 2023 and its first time hosting the series since 2014. The Bison captured a share of the regular-season title for the first time in a decade, a milestone that has energized the campus and the surrounding community.
A Historic Milestone for Bucknell
Holy Cross arrives as the defending champion, having posted a 23-27 overall record and a 13-13 mark in conference play. The Crusaders’ center fielder, CJ Egrie, has been named Patriot League Player of the Year for the second straight season, underscoring his dominance on the field.
The individual accolades extend beyond Egrie. Hadley Maxwell, a senior pitcher for Bucknell, was honored as the Patriot League Scholar Athlete of the Year, while also ranking among the nation’s leaders in saves. Teammates Ty Lagoni and Michael Trommer have also contributed key performances, with Trommer delivering an insurance run in the seventh inning of the series opener.
Pitching will be a focal point, as Bucknell’s rotation includes Brady Hoar, who posted a 4.61 ERA in 13 starts, and Everett Garber, a 4.81 ERA across 48.2 innings. Holy Cross counters with Jaden Wywoda, the league’s Pitcher of the Year, who posted a 3.50 ERA and a 5-4 record in 13 starts.
Offensively, the Bison boast a team batting average of .267 and have hit 31 home runs this season. Standout hitters include left fielder Michael Trommer (.305/.413/.536), Leyton Coupe (.300/.403/.480), and centerfielder Billy Fluharty, who led the league with 52 hits. Holy Cross counters with a potent lineup featuring Gianni Royer (.316/.379/.537) and Alex Sandell (.283), who tops the team with 51 hits.
The series will open with first pitch scheduled for 2:05 p.m. on May 18. A win in game one would give Bucknell a 1-0 lead, but the Crusaders have shown resilience, having rallied from a 14-5 deficit in a previous matchup to win 14-5 before securing a 5-4 victory in game two.
With both teams trading historic firsts and star-studded performances, the upcoming championship promises a compelling narrative that could reshape the Patriot League’s baseball landscape for years to come.