AMERICA EAST CHAMPIONSHIP

MAINE vs. STONY BROOK

Time, site: Thursday, 3:30 p.m.; Centennial Field, Burlington,Vt.

Records: Maine 37-16; Stony Brook 30-19

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 6-4; Maine 4-1, 2-0 on 5/11/03

Top hitters – Maine: 2B Brett Ouellette (.352, 10 HR, 45 RBI), DH Alain Picard (.332, 6 HR, 50 RBI, 9 SB), LF Ryan Quintal (.315, 4 HR, 23 RBI), C Aaron Izaryk (.307, 2 HR, 33 RBI), 3B Joe Drapeau (.299, 10 HR, 33 RBI); Stony Brook: C Ed Kull (.345, 2 HR, 15 RBI), 1B Mike Russo (.333, 10 HR, 29 RBI), DH Cole Cicatelli (.327, 6 HR, 27 RBI), SS Matt Devins (.316, 4 HR, 42 RBI), 2B Jim McCurdy (.298, 5 HR, 35 RBI)

Possible Pitching Matchup

Maine Black Bears Stony Brook Seawolves

ERA W-L Ks ERA W-L Ks

RH Mike MacDonald 4.22 10-10 137 RH Matt Restivo 2.51 5-3 42

Outlook: The Bears look to start strong after coming out of the losers’ bracket to win the 2002 title. MacDonald gets the start in part because of his curveball, which kept the Seawolves off-balance in a 4-hit victory 11 days ago. The middle of UMaine’s veteran lineup must produce, especially with runners in scoring position. And the Bears need to continue their exceptional defense (.974 fielding percentage). UMaine batted only .265 in the Stony Brook series. Ouellette is looking to extend an 18-game hitting streak, while Drapeau needs three home runs to tie Mark Sweeney for UMaine’s career lead at 52.