The University of Pennsylvania baseball team will face Saint Joseph’s on April 21 in the Liberty Bell Classic championship game at Citizens Bank Park, marking Penn’s first appearance at the venue since 2017.
This matchup is significant as Penn seeks its first Liberty Bell Classic title and continues a longstanding rivalry with Saint Joseph’s. The Quakers advanced to their third championship game after wins over Delaware State and Lafayette, while the Hawks have claimed three previous tournament titles.
Penn enters the contest with a 15-18 overall record and stands third in the Ivy League with a 9-6 mark. The team’s recent offensive performances included strong showings against Monmouth and Princeton. Senior co-captain Thomas Shurtleff was named Ivy League Pitcher of the Week for his seven scoreless innings and career-high ten strikeouts against Princeton, while junior infielder Nick Spaventa earned Player of the Week honors after collecting eight hits during that series. Over the past three weeks, Penn players have received six out of nine possible weekly awards.
At the plate, Spaventa leads Penn with a .288 batting average, ranking among conference leaders in several categories. Co-captain Jarrett Pokrovsky has also contributed consistently alongside teammates Jay Secretarski, Ernie Echvarria, and Gavin Degnan. On the mound, Shurtleff holds five wins and a 3.14 ERA; pitchers Marty Coyne and Jake Moss provide additional experience but are unlikely to pitch Tuesday. Freshmen Ben Moulin and Nick Newburn have become regular midweek starters for pitching coach Josh Schwartz.
Saint Joseph’s arrives with a 25-13 record (16-2 Atlantic-10), having just won two games over George Mason by wide margins. Key hitters include Alex Kelsey (.376) and Blake Primrose (.361), while pitcher Cole Fehrman leads their staff in strikeouts. The Hawks’ .288 team batting average ranks second in their conference.
Fans attending can purchase $5 tickets at Citizens Bank Park’s home plate ticket windows; parking is free in Lot P off Darien Street with entry through Home Plate VIP Entrance.
Penn Quakers Men’s Baseball competes at NCAA Division I level as part of University of Pennsylvania’s intercollegiate program according to its official website. The team maintains membership in the Ivy League according to its official website and hosts home games at Tommy Lasorda Field at Meiklejohn Stadium according to its official website.
