BASEBALL

Maine vs. Northeastern

Time, site: Saturday, Sunday, noon doubleheaders; Brookline, Mass.

Records: Maine 15-7 (0-0 America East); Northeastern 12-6 (2-2)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 65-58; Northeastern won 5-4 on 5/18/01

Top hitters – Maine: 3B Joe Drapeau (.380, 5 HR, 27 RBI), LF Simon Williams (.371, 5 HR, 19 RBI, 10 SB), 1B Jesse Carlton (.348, 5 HR, 14 RBI), CF Mike Livulpi (.338, 1 HR, 12 RBI), RF Mike Ross (.309, 5 HR, 29 RBI, 11 SB); NU: LF Ben Beck (.458, 2 HR, 22 RBI), C Luke Carlin (.436, 2 HR, 17 RBI), Mike Steinberg (.364, 2 RBI), SS Omar Pena (.347, 13 RBI), 3B Nick Graves (.293, 2 HR, 13 RBI)

Maine Black Bears Northeastern Huskies

ERA W-L Ks ERA W-L Ks

RH Mike Collar 3.82 3-1 31 RH Jordan Thomson 4.13 3-1 18

RH Mike MacDonald 7.88 2-1 24 RH Brendan Ryan 3.33 2-1 19

LH Rich Laganiere 9.41 3-2 24 RH Ken Henry 2.92 3-1 13

RH Paul Bruder 5.19 2-1 9 RH Devin Monds 2.37 1-0 13

Outlook: The Bears open conference play a bit shorthanded. Shortstop Mark Reichley is out with a bruised thigh and C Alain Picard, who is the league’s top hitter at .475 and has a 17-game hitting streak, is questionable with a shoulder ailment. UMaine must acclimate itself to the new FieldTurf surface. The Bears’ youthful pitchers are countered by NU’s veterans, who sport a 3.94 ERA. A big key is for UMaine’s starters to pitch well and keep the pressure off the bullpen.