AMERICA EAST CHAMPIONSHIP

No. 4 MAINE vs. No. 1 BINGHAMTON

Time, site: Thursday, 12:05 p.m.; Farmingdale, N.Y.

Records: Maine 21-29; Binghamton 26-17

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 13-6; Binghamton 3-0 on Monday

Top hitters – Maine: 1B Joel Barrett (.364, 7 HR, 38 RBI), 3B Curt Smith (.342, 7 HR, 43 RBI), C Myckie Lugbauer (.314, 5 HR, 24 RBI), LF Matt McGraw (.300, 4 HR, 28 RBI, 19 SB), CF Billy Cather (.297, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 16 SB); Binghamton: 1B Brendon Hitchcock (.386, 4 HR, 35 RBI), 2B Matt Simek (.348, 4 HR, 39 RBI, 12 SB), SS Justin Smucker (.329, 2 HR, 21 RBI), 3B Kyle Klee (.319, 3 HR, 18 RBI), Ryan James (.293, 2 HR, 20 RBI)

Probable Pitching Matchup

Maine Black Bears Binghamton Bearcats

ERA W-L Ks ERA W-L Ks

LH Brad Hertzler 3.38 4-4 66 RH Zach Groh 3.25 6-1 80

Outlook: The Bears begin their quest in earnest for a third straight league title. They open against the regular-season champion Bearcats, who took two of three Sunday and Monday in Orono. Maine will rely on Hertzler to set the tone with a strong, long start. He is backed by a steady defense that should benefit from the FieldTurf surface. Offensively, the Bears must move runners around effectively and get clutch hits. Binghamton isn’t overpowering offensively but is aggressive on the basepaths and isn’t afraid to move runners with the sacrifice bunt.