Baseball
MAINE vs. HARTFORD
Time, site: Saturday (2), noon, Sunday, noon, Fiondella Field, West Hartford, Connecticut
Records: Maine 8-13 (0-0 America East), Hartford 6-9 (2-1)
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 86-31, Hartford 2-1 on 4/7/14
Key players: Maine — 1B Brenden Geary (.452, 1 home run, 5 runs batted in), 3B Luke Morrill (.419, 1 HR, 14 RBI), 2B Brett Chappell (.347, 1 HR, 19 RBI), CF Sam Balzano (.341, 6 RBIs), SS Shane Bussey (.333, 12 RBI); Hartford — LF Nick Campana (.390, 5 RBI), SS Trey Stover (.389, 4 RBI), 2B Dalton Ruch (.324, 5 RBI), 1B David MacKinnon (.300, 5 RBI, 3 stolen bases), RF Ryan Lukach (.224, 3 HR, 15 RBI)
Pitching matchups: Maine — RH Jeff Gelinas (2-1, 4.57 earned run average, 19 strikeouts), RH Justin Courtney (0-4, 4.70, 11 K), LH Scott Heath (.3-1, 4.80, 24 K); Hartford — RH Kyle Gauthier (1-3, 4.82, 17 K), RH Sam McKay (3-1, 2.77, 14 K), RH Brian Murphy (0-1, 4.18, 16 K)
Game notes: Weather permitting, the Black Bears will open conference play against the Hawks. UMaine returned from Florida on a three-game winning streak but has plenty of work to do. The Bears want to improve their defense, which should come playing on artificial turf, and begin establishing more consistency with its starting pitchers. UMaine will be aggressive with the bats, especially in fastball counts, to make up for a less speedy lineup. The Bears need Brian Doran and Heath to boost their offensive production. Hartford has a strike-throwing pitching staff and a veteran infield that has turned 15 double plays in as many games. Hartford, which has already played four home games, is coming off a 23-8 drubbing by Yale on Tuesday.