AMERICA EAST CHAMPIONSHIP

MAINE vs. STONY BROOK

Time, site: Thursday, 3 p.m.; Centennial Field, Burlington, Vt.

Records: Maine 32-20-1, Stony Brook 23-27

Series, last meeting: Stony Brook leads 12-11, Maine 3-2 on 4/14/06

Top hitters – Maine: SS Curt Smith (.375, 5 HR, 47 RBI, 19 SB), 1B Joel Barrett (.366-5-49), 3B Kevin McAvoy (.366-7-55), CF Joe Hough (.338-7-33-25 SB), DH Matt McGraw (.333-4-35-15SB); SBU: CF Brian Witkowski (.347-1-14), SS Chris DiBiaso (.333-6-39), 1B Tom Pennino (.320-3-27), C Jon Pasieka (.319-1-23), 3B Andres Perez (.319-6-27)

Pitching Matchup

Maine Black Bears Stony Brook Seawolves

ERA W-L Ks ERA W-L Ks

RH Scott Robinson 4.87 8-3 67 RH Tom Koehler 4.50 4-4 55

Outlook: The defending champion Bears open postseason play against the Seawolves, who won five straight and seven of 10 to end the regular season. UMaine took two of three regular-season meetings against Stony Brook and needs Robinson to set a stingy tone on the mound. SBU is 5-1 against UMaine in postseason play. Koehler beat the Bears 3-1 in the April 13 “fog game” at Orono. UMaine is AE’s top hitting team at .316 and hopes to apply pressure with aggressive baserunning. The Seawolves, who are hitting .300, lead the way in pitching with a 4.20 team ERA and a league-best 350 strikeouts (7.1 per game).