BETHLEHEM, Pa. – No. 2 Bucknell (26-22, 17-9 PL) hosts No. 4 Holy Cross (23-27, 13-13 PL) in the best-of-three-game 2026 Patriot League Baseball Championship Series when it begins on Monday, May 18, at Depew Field at Marren Park in Lewisburg, Pa.
Live coverage of each game of the 2026 Patriot League Baseball Championship Series will be available live on ESPN+. Corey Nidoh will handle play-by-play duties, and Addison Sondberg will provide analysis and reporting from the sidelines.
The defending Patriot League champion Crusaders advanced to the title series for the second straight season after sweeping top-seeded Army West Point. Co-regular-season champion Bucknell, the No. 2 seed, swept No. 3 Navy to return to the championship series for the first time since 2023. The Bison and Crusaders will meet for the League title for the first time since 2017.
The Patriot League Championship Series winner will receive the League’s automatic berth to the NCAA Baseball Regionals. For more information about the 2026 Patriot League Baseball Championship, visit
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL.
No. 4 Holy Cross at No. 2 Bucknell (Depew Field at Marren Park/Lewisburg, Pa.)
| Date |
Game |
Time |
Coverage |
| Monday, May 18 |
Championship Game 1 – Holy Cross at Bucknell |
2:05 p.m. |
ESPN+ | Stats |
| Tuesday, May 19 |
Championship Game 2– Holy Cross at Bucknell |
2:05 p.m. |
ESPN+ | Stats |
| Wednesday, May 20 |
Championship Game 3 – Holy Cross at Bucknell (if necessary) |
1:05 p.m. |
ESPN+ | Stats |
2026 Patriot League Baseball Championship – Championship Series
NO. 4 HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS (23-27, 13-13 PL) AT NO. 2 BUCKNELL BISON (26-22, 17-9 PL)
Depew Field at Marren Park/Lewisburg, Pa. Mon. at 2 p.m. | Tues. at 2 p.m. | Wed. at 1 p.m.
WATCH ON ESPN+:
GAME 1 |
GAME 2 |
GAME 3
LIVE STATS |
GAME PROGRAM
Holy Cross Championship Stats Leaders: RF Nick Andersen batted .429 (3-of-7) with one home run, one double, four runs scored and four RBIs in the Crusaders’ two wins over top-seeded Army West Point. DH Gianni Royer batted .333 (3-for-9 with a home run and one double, while driving in four runs and scoring four runs. He scored twice and had three RBIs in Holy Cross’ series-clinching win. RHP Jake Lenahan allowed two runs on four hits through 7.1 innings with 10 strikeouts to earn the win in the Crusaders’ Game 2 victory.
Bucknell Championship Stats Leaders: OF Michael Trommer batted .500 (5-for-10) with three runs scored, two doubles and an RBI during the semifinal-round sweep over No. 3 Navy. 3B Zach Selfon batted .333 (2-for-6) with three runs and four RBIs, while SS Ty Lagoni and RF Michael Chiaravallo both drove in three runs apiece. RHP Jake Schultz allowed three runs on eight hits over 6.0 innings to earn the win in Game 1 for the Bison.
Bucknell vs. Holy Cross Championship History
The Bison and Crusaders have met in four previous postseasons, most recently in 2017 when the Crusaders swept the best-of-three game series to claim the Patriot League title. Holy Cross also swept Bucknell in the 2013 semifinal round. The Bison defeated the Crusaders in three games to claim the 2010 Patriot League Championship. In the first postseason meeting between the two squads in 2001, Bucknell eliminated Holy Cross in a one-game playoff.
Previews:
Bucknell |
Holy Cross
2026 Regular-Season Series – Bucknell vs. Holy Cross (split series, 2-2)
April 10 – Holy Cross 14, at Bucknell 5
(Box Score)
April 11- At Bucknell 5, Holy Cross 4 (7)
(Box Score)
April 11 – Holy Cross 7, at Bucknell 5
(Box Score)
April 12 – At Bucknell 12, Holy Cross 4
(Box Score)
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes 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 who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.