UMaine capsules

Baseball

MAINE vs. THOMAS

Time, site: Tuesday, 4 p.m.; Mahaney Diamond, Orono

Records: Thomas 11-13, Maine 19-10-1

Series, last meeting: 1st meeting

Top hitters (through April 16) – Thomas: LF Matt Pavlis (.457, 14 RBI, 7 SB), DH Tim Mercier (.443, 1 HR, 19 RBI), CF Jordan Stebbins (.403, 9 RBI), 1B Brandon Connors (.375, 32 HR, 16 RBI), RF Jerry Randall (.295, 1 HR, 11 RBI); Maine: 3B Kevin McAvoy (.434, 6 HR, 37 RBI), 1B Joel Barrett (.390, 2 HR, 31 RBI), SS Curt Smith (.378, 2 HR, 26 RBI, 9 SB), DH Matt McGraw (.321, 1 HR, 20 RBI), LF Ryan Quintal (.321, 4 HR, 32 RBI)

Possible Pitching Matchup

Thomas Terriers Maine Black Bears

ERA W-L Ks ERA W-L Ks

RH Mark Lucier 8.27 1-1 10 LH Jose Mendoza 17.18 0-0 2

Outlook: The Bears hope to play their first nonleague midweek game against a new opponent in the Terriers. However, field conditions may push the game to Wednesday. UMaine wants to rekindle its offensive fire after scratching out two 3-2 America East wins Friday over Stony Brook. Thomas, coached by former UMaine player and assistant coach Greg King, is third in the North Atlantic Conference at 4-2. The Terriers have lost three of their last four. Miami native Mendoza will see his first action since the Florida trip, with Jason Weymouth scheduled to follow in relief.

Softball

MAINE vs. COLBY

Time, site: Tuesday, 4 p.m.; Kessock Field, Orono

Records: Colby 6-13, Maine 26-15

Last meeting: Maine 7-1 on 4/27/04

Top hitters – Colby: OF Alaina Clark (.291, 5 RBI), 1B-C Tory Starr (.298, 7 RBIs), P-1B Lauren Olmsted (.263), 2B Mollie Puskar (.255, 7 RBI); Maine: SS Brittany Cheney (.379, 7 HR, 29 RBI, 18 SB), DH Amy Kuhl (.298, 23 RBI), 3B Tara Vilardo (.289, 8 RBI, 14 SB), 2B Ashley Waters (.258, 8 RBI, 7 SB)

Pitching Matchups

Colby White Mules Maine Black Bears

ERA W-L Ks ERA W-L Ks

RH Alyssa Crowell 1.71 2-2 18 RH Courtney Gingrich 3.86 1-1 11

Outlook: Maine coach Stacey Sullivan intends to mix up the lineup a bit to give her bench players some at-bats. Regular CF Dana Grimm will start, but Christina Belmonte and Kate Joseph will get the start in left and right, respectively. Gingrich last pitched April 13 when she gave up six hits and five runs, all earned, in a 9-7 loss to Boston College. Staff aces Sarah Bennis and Jenna Balent will likely throw in the late innings. The White Mules have struggled on offense with a .230 team batting average, although Olmsted leads a solid pitching squad coming off Monday’s tough 12-inning, 5-4 loss to UMaine-Farmington. In case of inclement weather, the game will likely be canceled and will not be moved indoors to the Mahaney Dome.