MAINE vs. HOFSTRA

Time, site: Saturday (2) noon, Sunday (2) 11 a.m.; Hempstead, N.Y.

Records: Maine 25-11 (10-6 America East); Hofstra 15-21 (8-8)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 11-7; Hofstra won 3-2, 6-5 on 5/7/00

Top hitters – Maine: 1B Jon Hambelton (.415, 10 HR, 38 RBI), 2B Quin Peel (.411, 2 HR, 16 RBI), CF Mike Livulpi (.375, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 7 SB), 3B Joe Drapeau (.348, 11 HR, 46 RBI), LF Simon Williams (.313, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 8 SB); Hofstra: RF Eric Creaney (.336, 10 RBI, 12 SB), 1B Danny Torres (.323, 6 HR, 22 RBI), SS Joe Farley (.287, 2 HR, 20 RBI), C Kevin Reinking (.273, 4 HR, 19 RBI), 2B Michael Meittinis (.252, 2 HR, 14 RBI)

Pitching Matchups

Maine Black Bears Hofstra Pride

ERA W-L Ks ERA W-L Ks

LH Rusty Tucker 1.43 5-1 41 RH Nelson Villalobos 6.48 3-4 33

RH Simon Stoner 4.86 4-2 33 LH Ryan Cosentino 6.89 2-4 36

RH Mike Collar 3.12 5-0 32 LH Gerald Auth 6.52 4-3 35

RH Mike MacDonald 4.88 3-1 19 RH Stephen Rice 8.61 3-4 22

Outlook: The Bears continue their quest for a postseason berth. UMaine, which boasts the stingiest pitching staff in the league (4.33 ERA) goes against Hofstra, the worst at 7.72. Tucker, who has allowed only two earned runs in his last 30 innings, is going for his fourth straight complete game. The Pride, who have lost nine in a row by an average of 7.44 runs, also have America East’s worst fielding percentage. UMaine, which is batting .271 vs. lefthanders, will face two in this series. Drapeau owns a nine-game hitting streak.