MAINE vs. NORTHEASTERN

Time, site: Saturday, noon (2); Brookline, Mass.

Records: Maine 12-10; Northeastern 8-6

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 74-59; Maine 4-3, 15-1 on 4/19/03

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); Northeastern: CF Jeff Heriot (.391, 2 HR, 12 RBI), 2B Eric Murray (.304, 5 RBI), RF Chris Emanuele (.279, 5 RBI, 7 SB), LF Brad Czarnowski (.267, 2 HR, 8 RBI), 1B Paul Koslowski (.213, 1 HR, 10 RBI)

Possible Pitching Matchups

Maine Black Bears Northeastern Huskies

ERA W-L Ks ERA W-L Ks

RH Greg Norton 4.94 2-3 14 RH Devin Monds 9.20 0-2 8

RH Steve Richard 3.49 1-2 23 RH Justin Hedrick 1.71 2-1 35

Outlook: With other New England Division I leagues playing conference games this weekend, the Bears and the Huskies of America East hook up in a nonconference prelude to next weekend’s three-game series in Brookline. Northeastern was the preseason pick to win AE, but has started slowly on offense. The veteran ballclub boasts a nifty team ERA of 2.93, but is batting only .248 with four regulars at .213 or below. UMaine is coming off Friday’s 2-1 loss at UConn. The Bears have won 12 of the last 14 meetings between the two teams.