The Matchup
The Leopards continue Patriot League play, hosting a doubleheader on Saturday with Bucknell and another doubleheader on Sunday against Navy. Last year, Bucknell won three of the five meetings between the two schools. Navy has won the first three games against Lafayette in their five-game series this season. 

Schedule Change
Lafayette's Liberty Bell Classic game on April 2 was moved to April 9 at Kamine Stadium at 3 p.m. The final will be on April 10 at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Joe Hindelang
On Saturday, the Lafayette baseball program will celebrate the life of former head coach Joe Hindelang, who passed away on Feb 17. Hindelang spent eight seasons on College Hill, from 1983 to 1990, guiding the Leopards to an East Coast Conference championship and an NCAA Regional appearance in 1990. He also coached Jeff Mutis, who was a first round pick in the MLB Draft, making his major league debut for Cleveland in 1991. Hindelang was also the head coach at Penn State from 1991 to 2004, winning 389 games, the most in program history, and leading the team to a Big Ten regular-season championship in 1996.  As a part of the celebration of life, Joe's wife Margot Putukian, escorted Joe's son Joel Hindelang, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. The Lafayette baseball team would like to welcome all members of the Lafayette family who have returned to College Hill.

Pitcher of the Week
Junior Joe Skapinetz was named the Patriot League Pitcher of the Week on March 5. In the Leopards' second game of their three-game series against Delaware on March 2, Skapinetz came out of the bullpen and threw 5.2 innings in the 4-2 Lafayette win over the Blue Hens. The junior right-hander tied a career high in strikeouts with 10, and did not give up a hit or a run in his appearance against Delaware. The Far Hills, N.J. native retired 16 of the 19 Blue Hens' batters that he faced on the way to collecting his first win of the season. This was the first weekly award for Skapinetz.

Preseason Honors
Junior Michael Zarrillo was named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team. Last year, the 2023 First-Team All-Patriot League selection batted a team-best .280, along with clubbing 10 home runs. Freshman Tristan Helmick was selected as the Preseason Patriot League Rookie of the Year by Perfect Game and D1BASEBALL. The Fort Washington, Pa. native comes to Lafayette from La Salle College High School, where he recorded a 6-1 record as a senior in 48.1 innings pitched, along with a 2.30 ERA.

Leading The Leopards
The Leopards are led by Blaze Fadio who is batting .323, along with five home runs and 27 RBIs. The senior has 11 multi-hit games and seven multi-RBI games. Sophomore right-hander Trace Florio has a team-best two wins in 24.0 innings pitched, along with 18 strikeouts.
 
The Opponents
Bucknell comes into the weekend with a 10-17 record. Sean Keys paces the Bison in almost every statistical category. The senior has a .427 batting average with 41 hits, 13 doubles, eight home runs and 30 RBIs. Mikey Myro leads the Bucknell pitching staff. Myro has two wins, a 5.40 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 28.1 innings pitched.  

Navy enters this weekend's series with a 17-11 record.  Navy is led by Brock Murtha, a Notre Dame transfer who is batting .381, with 37 hits, 20 doubles, a home run and 23 RBIs. The Mids' pitching staff is anchored by sophomore Tyler Grenn who is 4-1 record in 35.1 innings pitched, along with a 2.80 ERA and 17 strikeouts.