MAINE vs. ALBANY
Time, site: Sunday (2), 1 p.m., Monday, 2 p.m.; Mahaney Diamond, Orono
Records: Maine 8-14 (0-1 America East), Albany 4-7 (0-0)
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 34-27, Maine 7-0 on 5/11/14
Key players: Maine — 1B Brenden Geary (.429, 1 home run, 5 runs batted in), 2B Brett Chappell (.342, 1 HR, 20 RBI), CF Sam Balzano (.333, 6 RBI), SS Shane Bussey (.319, 12 RBI, 3 stolen bases), LF Scott Heath (.261, 1 HR, 14 RBI); Albany — 1B Shawn Blake (.280, 1 RBI), SS Trevor DeMerritt (.262, 4 RBI), RF Eric Mueller (.250, 6 RBI), 2B Karson Kanaday (.227, 7 RBI)
Pitching matchups: Maine — RH Jake Marks (0-3, 9.15 earned run average, 19 strikeouts), RH Jeff Gelinas (2-1, 4.57, 19 K), LH Scott Heath (3-2, 4.89, 27 K); Albany — LH Brendan Ryan (1-2, 1.89, 11 K), RH Cameron Sorgie (0-2, 14.54, 5 K), RH Matt Gallup (0-1, 7.98, 6)
Game notes: The Black Bears are fortunate to open their home schedule as Mahaney Diamond is finally free of snow. UMaine coach Steve Trimper praised athletic grounds manager Eric Stoup for his staff’s efforts in clearing the snow off the field during the last few weeks. UMaine is well rested after getting in only one game last weekend at Hartford, a 10-5 loss on Saturday. The Bears will be without senior third baseman Luke Morrill of South Thomaston, who is nursing a hamstring issue. The Great Danes play their first league games after a weather-induced, 11-day layoff. Albany’s AE series against UMass Lowell was canceled. The Great Danes are batting only .238 thus far and have a league-worst .933 fielding percentage. However, Albany has logged a solid 4.58 team ERA.