The University of Maine’s weekend baseball sweep at Northeastern should provide a nice springboard into the rest of the America East season.

The Black Bears, who were knocked out of the conference tournament last season by the Huskies, turned in some clutch performances at bat, on the mound, and in the field while improving to 19-7.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling, especially taking four from a good team like Northeastern,” said junior outfielder Mike Livulpi, “especially last year after what they did to us in the playoffs.”

And both teams did a good job of keeping their emotions in check. During last year’s series in Orono, a collision at home plate led to a benches-clearing skirmish at home plate.

There were no such shenanigans this time around.

“There was a lot of intensity there; every single inning, every game,” Livulpi said. “We just kept [our focus] on the field and that’s the way it should be.”

While the sweep is a nice boost for the Bears, coach Paul Kostacopoulos won’t let his team become complacent.

“It’s a good start,” he said Monday. “We’ve kind of got to let it go, though. We’ve got 20 league games left.”

UMaine, which travels to Vermont for a four-game series next weekend, needs to keep preparing well during the week. That should be easier this week as the Bears make their Mahaney Diamond debut today at 6 p.m. against Division III Colby College of Waterville.

UMaine then plays Husson College of Bangor on Wednesday. The midweek games are helpful in keeping the players sharp heading into weekend America East games.

“This week will be good because we’ll get a chance to play the game and we’ll try to get some guys that haven’t gotten as many opportunities in the lineup this week,” Kostacopoulos said.

The Bears have developed more versatility in the infield with catcher Alain Picard relegated to a designated hitter role with a shoulder injury and starting shortstop Mark Reichley nursing a bruised thigh.

Junior Brett Ouellette has been superb at second base, freshman Mike Ferriggi has demonstrated his defensive prowess at shortstop and sophomore Matt Reynolds continues to wield a good bat and can play second or third.

Ferriggi continues to impress his coach in the field.

“He did a heck of a job for a freshman starting four games in a big league series,” Kostacopoulos said. “He made all the plays. He was rock-solid. And he chipped in with a couple hits, too.”

Freshman catcher Aaron Izaryk also continued his solid play, both behind the plate and with the bat.