ORONO – The University of Maine softball team will play host to the America East softball tournament this week at Kessock Field.

The regular-season champion and top-seeded Black Bears (35-17) face No. 4 Boston University (26-27) Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Second-seeded Albany (33-10) meets No. 3 Maryland Baltimore County (45-18) in the noon contest.

The double-elimination event continues Friday and Saturday.