College baseball

MAINE vs. BINGHAMTON

Time, site: Saturday (2), Sunday, noon; Varsity Field, Vestal, N.Y.

Records: Maine 18-15 (3-3 America East); Binghamton 15-10 (5-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 5-1; 8-0, 13-9 on 4/27/03

Top hitters – Maine: 3B Greg Creek (.384, 4 HR, 26 RBI), 1B Joel Barrett (.382, 17 RBI), DH Matt McGraw (.349, 1 HR, 10 RBI), RF Joe Hough (.312, 4 HR, 28 RBI), CF Simon Williams (.274, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 17 SB); Binghamton: 3B Jay Balback (.409, 9 HR, 30 RBI), LF Joe Costello (.327, 8 HR, 24 RBI), DH Brendon Hitchcock (.326, 3 HR, 19 RBI), RF T.J. Kowalchuk (.314, 3 HR, 24 RBI), C Pat Haughie (.297, 2 HR, 10 RBI)

Possible Pitching Matchups

Maine Black Bears Binghamton Bearcats

ERA W-L Ks ERA W-L Ks

RH Mike MacDonald 3.50 3-1 52 RH David Lind 2.66 1-3 19

RH Troy Martin 2.93 2-0 23 LH Mike Weglinski 2.86 3-0 21

RH Greg Norton 4.40 3-5 26 RH J.D. Brink 6.52 0-2 16

Outlook: The Bears have developed some offensive confidence, putting up 37 runs and 43 hits in their last three games. UMaine has won four of five and looks to keep climbing in the AE standings, where it is tied for fourth. Binghamton, winner in 11 of 14, is making its home debut. The Bearcats rank second in AE batting (.285) and have belted 29 home runs, but strike out a lot. Balback is among the league’s top hitters. UMaine’s 3.96 team ERA is second behind Northeastern.