MAINE vs. CENTRAL CONNECTICUT

Time, site: Tuesday (2), 1 p.m.; Balf-Savin Field, New Britain, Conn.

Records: Maine 12-11; Central Connecticut 14-7-1

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 15-7; lost 8-1, won 4-3 on 5/7/03

Top hitters – Maine: 1B Greg Creek (.382, 1 HR, 18 RBI), DH Matt McGraw (.352, 3 RBI), RF Joe Hough (.317, 4 HR, 22 RBI), 2B Mike Ferriggi (.289, 9 RBI), CF Simon Williams (.278, 12 RBI, 8 SB); Central Connecticut: 2B Keith Stegbauer (.463, 20 RBI), CF Rob Hosgood (.410, 2 HR, 21 RBI, 6 SB), C Tim D’Aquila (.374, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 6 SB), LF Matt Memoli (.345, 1 HR, 14 RBI), CF Brad Muldoon (.338, 21 RBI, 10 SB)

Possible Pitching Matchups

Maine Black Bears Central Conn. Blue Devils

ERA W-L Ks ERA W-L Ks

RH Steve Richard 3.49 1-2 23 LH Nate Cole 7.31 1-0 11

RH Troy Martin 3.33 2-0 16 RH Mark Peterson 2.18 2-1 13

Outlook: The Bears look to end a two-game losing streak against the top-ranked Division I team in New England. UMaine, in its final nonleague action before an America East series at Northeastern, is hoping to get its offense in gear. Central Connecticut boasts a healthy .337 team batting average and has posted 8.3 runs per game. The Blue Devils of the Northeast Conference also like to run, having stolen 30 bases in 33 attempts, so the Bears’ pitchers must keep them honest.