MAINE vs. NORTHEASTERN

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday (2), noon; Sunday, 1 p.m.; Mahaney Diamond, Orono

Records: Northeastern 17-27 (10-14 America East); Maine 33-12 (17-7)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 62-56; Northeastern won 4-1 on 4/10/00

Top hitters – Northeastern: 1B Ben Beck (.333, 9 HR, 36 RBI), DH Mike Wysong (.325, 3 HR, 8 RBI), RF Todd Korchin (.317, 1 HR, 19 RBI), 2B Hernan Guerrero (.294, 6 HR, 21 RBI), SS Luke Carlin (.277, 6 HR, 31 RBI, 12 SB); Maine: DH Jon Hambelton (.412, 11 HR, 40 RBI), 2B Quin Peel (.402, 2 HR, 18 RBI), C Joe Drapeau (.343, 11 HR, 49 RBI), CF Mike Livulpi (.338, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 12 SB), 1B Pat Tobin (.327, 2 HR, 21 RBI)

Pitching Matchups

Northeastern Huskies Maine Black Bears

ERA W-L Ks ERA W-L Ks

RH Chris Walsh 6.57 0-7 31 LH Rusty Tucker 1.09 7-1 54

RH Matt Cavallaro 8.12 4-4 26 RH Simon Stoner 3.96 6-2 45

RH Ken Henry 5.02 4-4 26 RH Mike Collar 2.83 7-0 43

RH Jordan Thomson 5.44 4-2 39 RH Mike MacDonald 4.17 4-2 30

Outlook: The Bears can solidify the No. 2 tournament seed with one win against the Huskies, who need four wins to clinch a postseason spot. This series is slated over three days, which may benefit the banged-up Bears. Northeastern, picked in preseason poll to finish second, has struggled. The Huskies are batting .276 and have a 6.20 team ERA. South Portland’s Beck has been hot, hitting six home runs in the last week. UMaine has won 10 of its last 12 league games.