MAINE vs. NORTHEASTERN

Time, site: Saturday (2), Sunday, noon; Mahaney Diamond, Orono

Records: Northeastern 20-19 (10-4 America East); Maine 27-14 (10-5)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 75-62, Northeastern 3-2 on 4/10/04

Top hitters ? Maine: 3B Curt Smith (.359, 2 HR, 25 RBI, 10 SB), LF Ryan Quintal (.349, 5 HR, 33 RBI), 1B Joel Barrett (.348, 7 HR, 33 RBI), C Aaron Izaryk (.326, 21 RBI), DH Greg Creek (.326, 8 HR, 23 RBI), CF Joe Hough (.311, 4 HR, 25 RBI, 20 SB); NU: DH Matt Morizio (.342, 3 HR, 20 RBI), CF Chris Emanuele (.339, 8 HR, 30 RBI, 15 SB), RF Jeff Heriot (.323, 6 HR, 30 RBI, 10 SB), SS Arman Sidhu (.304, 1 HR, 22 RBI)

Possible Pitching Matchups

Northeastern Huskies Maine Black Bears

ERA W-L Ks ERA W-L Ks

RH Adam Ottavino 3.48 5-4 78 RH Steve Richard 2.27 6-1 69

RH Devin Monds 3.58 2-5 52 RH Greg Norton 3.09 8-2 61

RH Dave Pellegrine 4.94 4-2 59 RH Troy Martin 4.11 6-2 31

Outlook: The second-place Bears hope to continue their march toward the America East Tournament against the No. 1 Huskies. UMaine has taken two of three in each of its first five league series and is a half-game behind Northeastern in the standings. The Bears will again need yeoman efforts from their starters. NU features good power and has been surging offensively of late. Izaryk and Smith continue to swing hot bats for UMaine. This will be the last regular-season series between the two rivals as the Huskies are joining the Colonial Athletic Association next fall.