MAINE vs. HARTFORD
Time, site: Saturday (2), 1 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m., Mahaney Diamond, Orono
Records: Maine 12-19 (2-6 America East), Hartford 12-19 (5-5)
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 86-32, Hartford 10-5 on 3/21/15
Key players: Maine — 3B Luke Morrill (.360, 1 home run, 18 runs batted in), CF Sam Balzano (.353, 11 RBI, 7 stolen bases), 2B Brett Chappell (.330, 1 HR, 26 RBI), 1B Brenden Geary (.324, 1 HR, 10 RBI), LF Scott Heath (.269, 2 HR, 20 RBI); Hartford — 1B David Mackinnon (.356, 11 RBI), 3B Ben Bengston (.344, 16 RBI), SS Trey Stover (.329, 6 RBI), RF Ryan Lukach (.250, 5 HR, 28 RBI)
Pitching matchups: Maine — RH Justin Courtney (1-4, 3.99 earned run average, 19 strikeouts), LH Scott Heath (3-3, 5.05, 32 K), RH Jacob Gosselin-Deschesnes (2-1, 3.00, 18 K); Hartford — RH Kyle Gauthier (2-4, 4.56, 32 K), RH Sam McKay (3-4, 4.29, 22 K), RH Brian Murphy (0-3, 3.72, 25 K)
Game notes: The Black Bears are in desperate need of victories after sliding to the bottom of the league standings. The Hawks have lost three straight, but occupy third place. UMaine has moved Gosselin-Deschesnes (2-1) into a starting role in an attempt to solidify a No. 3 starter. He leads the staff with a 3.00 ERA in 27 innings covering 12 appearances. Opponents are batting only .183 against the senior. In league play, UMaine ranks last in team ERA (5.93) and fielding (.960) and is sixth in batting (.248). Hartford is fifth (4.54), fifth (.963) and second (.284), respectively. Balzano has been among the few consistent hitters in AE play for UMaine at .343. Hartford’s Bengston has a conference-best .424 average in AE games and Mackinnon is at .405. In league action, UMaine freshman Courtney features a 2.93 ERA in 15⅓ innings.