MAINE vs. HARTFORD

Time, site: Friday, 5 p.m.; Saturday (2), 1 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.; Mahaney Diamond, Orono

Records: Hartford 14-24 (6-6 America East), Maine 16-21-1 (4-8)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 63-19, Maine 16-3 on 5/14/07

Top hitters – Hartford: C Mike Amendola (.366, 4 HRs, 26 RBIs), RF Adam Bowser (.333, 6 HRs, 23 RBIs, 14 SBs), SS Ben Sobocinski (.307, 3 HRs, 15 RBIs, 12 SBs), 3B Bill Perry (.306, 5 HRs, 24 RBIs); Maine: 3B Curt Smith (.393, 11 HRs, 29 RBIs, 10 SBs), 1B Myckie Lugbauer (.367, 4 HRs, 35 RBIs), 3B Jarrett Lukas (.356, 4 HRs, 25 RBIs), CF Billy Cather (.325, 2 HRs, 22 RBIs, 14 SBs), SS Tony Patane (.318, 3 HRs, 29 RBIs)

Possible Pitching Matchups

Hartford Hawks Maine Black Bears

ERA W-L Ks ERA W-L Ks

RH Weston Szymanski 6.19 2-4 36 LH Kevin Scanlan 3.49 2-3 56

RH Chris Greiner 4.03 5-1 46 RH Matt Jebb 3.93 2-3 56

LH Pete Moraski 4.84 3-2 25 RH Kyle Benoit 5.53 3-1 39

RH Zack Tarner 3.20 0-2 21 RH Alejandro Balsinde 5.46 1-5 14

Outlook: The Bears need three wins in this series, their last at home, if they hope to stay in the postseason hunt. Seventh-place UMaine is coming off three straight losses to Stony Brook, while fourth-place Hartford has dropped six in a row after being swept by UMBC. It is the home finale for seniors Smith, OF Mark Ostrander and pitchers Will Carroll and Nolan Boike. Lukas boasts a 12-game hitting streak. The Bears need stellar starting pitching to help overcome their youth and lack of depth in the bullpen. The Hawks’ 4.55 ERA in AE play leads the league.