College baseball

MAINE vs. SACRED HEART

Time, site: Friday (2), 12:30 p.m.; Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, Conn.

Records: Maine 12-9; Sacred Heart 1-18

Series, last meeting: first meeting

Top hitters – Maine: 1B Greg Creek (.390, 1 HR, 18 RBI), DH Matt McGraw (.369, 3 RBI), RF Joe Hough (.333, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 4 SB), 2B Mike Ferriggi (.307, 9 RBI), LF Ryan Quintal (.297, 2 HR, 11 RBI), CF Simon Williams (.268, 10 RBI, 8 SB); Sacred Heart: 1B Jamie Schilkowski (.379, 5 RBI), LF Curtis Lewsey (.306, 3 RBI), RF Ed Marotta (.279, 6 RBI)

Possible Pitching Matchups

Maine Black Bears Sacred Heart Pioneers

ERA W-L Ks ERA W-L Ks

RH Greg Norton 4.94 2-3 14 LH Chuck Ristano 7.46 0-4 19

RH Steve Richard 3.49 1-2 23 RH Dan Scott 3.94 0-2 20

Outlook: The Bears hope to build some momentum this weekend with the start of the America East schedule only a week away. UMaine has won 10 of its last 13. Sacred Heart has struggled and lost five straight. The Pioneers are batting .225 as a team, compared to the Bears’ .289, while Sacred Heart’s pitching staff owns a 7.85 ERA and UMaine checks in at a stingier 3.87. UMaine coach Paul Kostacopoulos said the Bears need to work on getting ahead early to better capitalize on situational running opportunities, since they aren’t blessed with much power.