BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Top-seeded Army West Point (36-16, 21-4 PL) will host No. 2 Bucknell (23-21-1, 14-11 PL) when the best two-of-three game 2023 Patriot League Baseball Championship Series begins on Saturday, May 20 at Johnson Stadium at Doubleday Field.
Live coverage for each game of the championship series begins at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
The four-time defending Patriot League Champion Black Knights are aiming for their 12th League crown and first under 2023 Patriot League Coach of the Year Chris Tracz. The Bison make their second-consecutive appearance in the Patriot League Championship Series in search of their first title since 2014 and seventh in program history.
The winner of the 2023 Patriot League Championship Series advances to the NCAA DI Baseball Championship. Army West Point (10) and Bucknell (6) lead the Patriot League in most NCAA Championship appearances.
For more information on the 2023 Patriot League Baseball Championship, visit
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL.
No. 2 Bucknell at No. 1 Army West Point (Johnson Stadium at Doubleday Field/West Point, N.Y.)
| Date |
Game |
Time |
Coverage |
| Saturday, May 20 |
Championship Series – Bucknell at Army West Point |
1 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
| Sunday, May 21 |
Championship Series – Bucknell at Army West Point |
1 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
| Monday, May 22 |
Championship Series – Bucknell at Army West Point (if necessary) |
1 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
2023 Patriot League Baseball Championship – Championship Series
NO. 2 BUCKNELL BISON (23-21-1, 14-11 PL) at NO. 1 ARMY WEST POINT BLACK KNIGHTS (36-16, 21-4 PL)
Johnson Stadium at Doubleday Field/West Point, N.Y. Each game at 1 p.m. (ESPN+)
WATCH:
GAME 1 |
GAME 2 |
GAME 3
LIVE STATS
PREVIEWS:
BUCKNELL |
ARMY WEST POINT
2023 REGULAR-SEASON SERIES:
April 2 – At Army West Point 7, Bucknell 0
April 2 – Bucknell 11, at Army West Point 7
April 15 – Army West Point 15, at Bucknell 0
April 16 – Army West Point 8, at Bucknell 2
April 16 – Army West Point 9, at Bucknell 4
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: The Black Knights and Bison have played 16 times in the Patriot League Championship dating back to their first meeting in 1997. Since then, Army West Point holds a 9-7 series advantage, including taking two of three games from the Bison in the 2022 Patriot League Championship Series.
Army West Point defeated Bucknell twice during the 1997 Patriot League Championship at West Point, including an 11-10 victory to claim their first League title. The second-seeded Bison picked up a 9-1 win over No. 3 Black Knights in 1998. No. 3 Army West Point defeated No. 2 Bucknell, 5-4, in the first game of the 2000 championship.
The Black Knights and Bison met in the semifinals in 2008, the first year of the four-team championship field. Bucknell won the best-of-three game series, 2-1, on their way to a League title. The Bison also took two-of-three games from the Black Knights in 2010 before winning the program’s fifth League title. Army West Point avenged its two semifinals losses by taking two-of-three games from the Bison in 2018 on the way to winning its first of four straight League titles.
CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERS
Army West Point freshman second baseman Chris Barr is batting .500 (5-for-10) with four RBIs in three games. Sophomore DH Coleson Titus is batting .462 (6-for-13) while leading the Tournament in home runs (3), RBIs (7) and runs (4). Senior RHP Robbie Buecker is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in a seven-inning start against the Leopards.
Bucknell junior outfielder Jacob Corson and sophomore third baseman Sean Keys both batted .500 during the semifinal round to lead the Bison to a two-game sweep over No. 3 Navy. Keys recorded two doubles and two RBIs. Sophomore second baseman Billy Kender drove in a team-high three runs in two games against the Mids. Bison senior RHP Chris DiFiore turned in the Tournament’s best pitching performance, throwing a nine-inning complete-game shutout in a 2-0 game one win against Navy. He allowed three hits and struck out two.
BLACK KNIGHTS RETURN TWO TOURNAMENT MVPS
Army West Point features a pair of previous Patriot League Championship MVPs, including junior third baseman Sam Ruta (2022 MVP) and senior first baseman Ross Friedrick (2021 MVP). Friedrick is a two-time All-Tournament selection.
Ruta went 4-for-4 with two runs in game three of last season’s Championship Series against Bucknell. Friedrick, who went 4-for-5 with three runs and one RBI in the same game, homered twice in a decisive game three against Lehigh in 2021 to earn MVP honors.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athlete can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.