College baseball

MAINE vs. VERMONT

Time, site: 6 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. (2) Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday; at Mahaney Diamond, Orono

Records: Maine 14-27 (5-7 America East), Vermont 18-19 (7-4)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 88-51, Maine 5-2 on 5/26/06

Top hitters – Vermont: 3B Kyle Massie (.351, 14 RBIs, 10 SB), CF Will Huntington (.340, 13 RBIs, 11 SB), 1B Kyle Henry (.309, 3 HR, 23 RBIs), 2B Bryan Rembisz (.304, 1 HR, 24 RBIs); Maine: 1B Joel Barrett (.367, 4 HR, 29 RBIs), C Myckie Lugbauer (.340, 3 HR, 18 RBIs), 3B Curt Smith (.311, 4 HR, 27 RBIs), LF Matt McGraw (.302, 3 HR, 24 RBIs), RF Kevin Jackson (.329, 12 RBIs)

Pitching Matchups

Vermont Catamounts Maine Black Bears

ERA W-L Ks ERA W-L Ks

RH Bryan Rembisz 2.05 4-1 57 LH Jose Mendoza 8.77 1-3 16

RH Kyle Henry 2.54 4-5 38 LH Brad Hertzler 4.44 2-4 48

RH Brandon Miles 4.53 1-4 24 RH Greg Norton 5.69 4-3 32

RH Keith Rakus 5.58 3-1 22 RH Alejandro Balsinde 4.71 1-4 23

Outlook: The Bears can put themselves firmly in the postseason hunt with a strong showing against the Catamounts. However, Vermont comes in with some strong pitching and is also looking to solidify its playoff chances. UMaine has been left thin with a handful of injuries and doesn’t have many options off the bench. The offense must take advantage of scoring chances and hope the pitching staff can put together an efficient series. The Bears have lost four of their last five games.