BASEBALL

MAINE vs. CENTRAL CONNECTICUT

Time, site: Wednesday (2), 1 p.m.; Balf-Savin Field, New Britain, Conn.

Records: Maine 22-10; Central Connecticut 23-15

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 13-5; CentConn won 6-4, 3-2 on 4/11/01

Top hitters – Maine: DH Alain Picard (.443, 4 HR, 32 RBI), LF Simon Williams (.396, 7HR, 26 RBI, 15 SB), C Aaron Izaryk (.373, 1 HR, 11 RBI), SS Mark Reichley (.360, 1 HR, 16 RBI), 3B Joe Drapeau (.349, 7 HR, 37 RBI); Central Connecticut: 1B Phil Rothkugel (.386, 6 HR, 38 RBI), CF Rob Hosgood (.379, 2 HR, 28 RBI, 18 SB), DH Tim D’Aquila (.321, 6 HR, 39 RBI), RF Kevin Rival (.338, 4 HR, 27 RBI), 2B Jay Landeen (.344, 1 HR, 25 RBI)

Pitching Matchups

Maine Black Bears Central Conn. Blue Devils

ERA W-L Ks ERA W-L Ks

RH Scott Robinson 3.98 2-0 18 RH Justin Cerbone 1.52 2-0 28

RH Greg Creek 7.27 1-1 13 RH Don Crossman 3.51 3-1 11

Outlook: The Bears hope to bounce back after losing three of four at Vermont. UMaine could use some momentum heading into this weekend’s America East series against Albany. The Devils have won four of their last six and are in third place in the Northeast Conference. UMaine needs a bit of a confidence boost after its offensive struggles at Vermont. The Bears averaged only four runs and 6.5 hits in the series, led by the resurgent Brett Ouellette (5-for-12, 4 doubles). Robinson leads the Bears in ERA, while freshman Creek continues to improve.

SOFTBALL

MAINE vs. BOSTON UNIVERSITY

Time, site: Wednesday, Kessock Field, Orono, 2 p.m. (2)

Records: Boston U. 22-19 (16-2 America East), Maine 19-25 (7-7)

Last meeting: BU swept UMaine 2-1 and 2-0 on April 17

Top hitters – Boston University: SS Jamie Hass (.375, 1 HR, 7 RBI), CF Julie Henneke (.320, 3 HR, 14 RBI), DP Nichole Kurker (.300, 0 HR, 7 RBI), LF Tiffany Finateri (.257, 2 HR, 13 RBI), 3B Kate Abney (.231, 0 HR, 3 RBI); Maine: 3B Leigh Ann Hlywak (.326, 10 HR, 30 RBI), SS Erica Sobel (.306, 2 HR, 18 RBI), CF Jessica Brady (.285, 0 HR, 6 RBI), 1B Katherine Churchill (.248, 0 HR, 4 RBI), RF Aliesha Rautenberg (.228, 0 HR, 8 RBI)

Pitching Matchups

Boston University Terriers Maine Black Bears

ERA W-L Ks ERA W-L Ks

RH Robyn Horrick 0.67 10-5 129 RH Jenna Merchant 1.58 13-10 120

LH Julie Henneke 1.12 7-3 87 RH Candace Jaegge 2.12 6-13 64

Outlook: The Black Bears are clinging to the fourth and final playoff slot with 10 league contests left, and have a chance to move up with a pair of games against the front-running Terriers. The Black Bear pitching staff has been on a roll, and hasn’t allowed more than two runs in a game in the last 14 contests. BU’s Horrick boasts the lowest ERA in the league, but will have to be careful with Sobel and Hlywak. Hlywak leads the league home run race with 10. The second-leading sluggers have just four. Hlywak is also leading America East in RBIs.