UMaine capsules

Softball

MAINE vs. BOSTON UNIVERSITY

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

Records: BU 19-27 (7-4 America East); Maine 19-15 (6-6)

Series, last meeting: BU 8-3, 3/9/04

Top hitters – BU: SS Jamie Haas (.338, 6 RBI, 12 SB), P-OF DeKenya Williams (.270, 16 RBI, 4 HR), 1B Liz Alley (.252, 30 RBI, 10 HR); Maine: CF Jess Brady (.375, 16 RBI, 3 HR, 11 SB), SS Brittany Cheney (.331, 19 RBI, 5 HR), 3B Lauren Dulkis (.305, 10 RBI)

Possible Pitching Matchups

BU Terriers Maine Black Bears

ERA W-L Ks ERA W-L Ks

RH Ashlee Freeman 2.41 12-13 115 RH Sarah Bennis 1.71 6-8 75

RH Brittany Detwiler 5.58 5-9 47 RH Jenna Merchant 1.75 5-4 35

Outlook: A split would be huge mentally for the Black Bears, who were knocked out of the America East tournament by the Terriers last year. A win also would help Maine as the postseason tournament nears as the Bears are sitting in fifth place while BU is third. The Terriers are coming off a 1-2 weekend against Stony Brook. Freeman’s 115 strikeouts and 171 1/3 innings of work are second in the league; Bennis’ opposing batting average of .208 is third-best in the league.

Baseball

MAINE vs. HOLY CROSS

Time, site: Wednesday, 3:30 p.m.; Fitton Field, Worcester, Mass.

Records: Maine 20-16; Holy Cross 13-20-1

Series, last meeting: Holy Cross leads 19-4; Maine 11-1 on 4/30/03

Top hitters – Maine: 1B Joel Barrett (.375, 18 RBI), 3B Greg Creek (.373, 4 HR, 26 RBI), DH Matt McGraw (.348, 1 HR, 12 RBI), RF Joe Hough (4 HR, 32 RBI), LF Ryan Quintal (.312, 3 HR, 24 RBI); Holy Cross: C Mike Marron (.347, 7 RBI), 2B Tucker Frawley (.344, 1 HR, 19 RBI), RF Matt Perron (.293, 9 RBI), 3B Mike Schell (.274, 1 HR, 18 RBI)

Possible Pitching Matchup

Maine Black Bears Holy Cross Crusaders

ERA W-L Ks ERA W-L Ks

RH Greg Creek 2.25 1-0 4 RH Rob Oteri 5.03 1-4 21

Outlook: The Bears continue their quest for improvement with a game against the Crusaders. UMaine has won five of its last six, while Holy Cross has won four straight and six of seven. The Crusaders are in line for their first Patriot League postseason berth since 2001. The Bears are averaging 7.6 runs and 12.6 hits in their last eight contests. Creek is 9-1 with a 4.45 ERA in 30 career mound appearances for UMaine.