College baseball

MAINE vs. DREXEL

Time, site: Saturday (2), Sunday (2), noon; Drexel Field, Philadelphia

Records: Maine 12-2 (0-0 America East); Drexel 2-14 (0-0)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 22-9; UM won 10-2, 5-2 on April 16, 2000

Top hitters – Maine: DH Jon Hambelton (.490, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 15 runs), CF Mike Livulpi (.452, 5 RBI, 4 SB), 2B Quin Peel (.424, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 4 SB), 3B Joe Drapeau (.361, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 19 runs), LF Mike Ross (.313, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 16 runs); Drexel: OF Ben Sniecinski (.388, 7 RBI), OF Mike Francis (.328, 9 RBI, 8 SB), C Rob Martine (.314, 2 HR, 12 RBI), DH Jason Bailey (.303, 3 RBI), OF Renaldo Smith (.286, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 6 SB)

Pitching Matchups

Maine Black Bears Drexel Dragons

ERA W-L K ERA W-L K

LH Rusty Tucker 2.81 2-0 20 RHRyan Higgins 4.33 1-3 30

RH Simon Stoner 6.57 1-1 11 RHShane Carroll 5.11 0-3 28

RH Mike Collar 1.29 3-0 14 RHEric Metzger 13.00 0-0 1

RH Kris Ehmke 5.54 2-0 12 LH Josh Zumbach 8.64 0-1 2

Outlook: UMaine, off to its best start ever, wants to build on the momentum generated on the spring break trip in its initial America East series. The Bears, rained out Friday at Sacred Heart, have won 27 of their last 35 games (.771) dating back to last season and have taken 14 of the last 17 vs. Drexel. Livulpi boasts a 10-game hitting streak, while Peel has hit in eight straight. The Dragons have struggled, batting only .250 while being outscored by a 2-to-1 ratio. Drexel’s pitching has been equally ineffective with an 8.93 team ERA.