The University of Maine baseball team appears to be on a record pace this season.

Unfortunately, the dubious distinction could become a school record for losses in a season. Maine lost a record 27 games last year. The Black Bears are only seven losses shy of tying that mark this spring.

Coach John Winkin’s club won one of three against North Atlantic Conference favorite Delaware last Saturday in Newark, Del., halting its school-record, 17-game losing streak behind the four-hit pitching of Jim Hanning.

Winkin said that with 32 games left on the schedule, the struggling Bears can’t help but improve.

“There’s a lot of season left and it’s a young team beginning to find it’s way,” Winkin maintained Monday. “We’ve got time. What we’re trying to do now is simply gel.”

Maine’s bats have been quiet lately, managing only 12 hits in the tripleheader against the Blue Hens. The Bears are averaging just 3.2 runs per game and have a lackluster .233 team batting average.

With at least six freshmen starting every game, Winkin still believes Maine is on the verge of measuring Division I pitching after facing the league’s top staff last weekend.

“They know it’s a matter of time before they come through with the hits when they need to and move the runners when they have to,” Winkin said. “We’ve got to have a little better success with runners in scoring position.”

Junior catcher Steve Puleo continues to set the pace at the plate with a .408 average, while freshman Nick Caiazzo checks in at .338. Only two other regulars, Dan Catlin and Mark Ballard, are over .200.

Maine continues to work hard on bunting and moving runners along in hopes of manufacturing some runs while the players get into a groove.

“We have attempted to do a lot of that until the kids get the confidence they need,” Winkin said. “They’re trying to catch up to good pitching. We’ve got to get clutch hits.”

The Bears demonstrated their inexperience after a controversial call at home plate in the third game led to a five-run Delaware uprising.

“Unfortunately, it unraveled a young team and shook up (pitcher LeRoy) Decker,” Winkin said. “That isn’t to our credit, but I think we have to face the fact they had trouble handling it. You can’t let one thing like that disrupt you, no matter how unfair it seems.”

While Winkin admitted that it is taking this group longer than he had expected to find itself, he doesn’t see the need to panic. Twenty-four NAC games are still up for grabs.

In Winkin’s estimation, the youthful defense has performed well, the pitching is making strides and the bats are on the verge of breaking loose.

“I look out at that field and I say, `gee, this is a pretty good-looking team,’ ” Winkin said. “It’s just a question of when it’s going to catch fire. I’m not a bit discouraged about this team. It’s got to take off.”

BEAR TRACKS: Senior shortstop Todd Livingston is making a slow recovery from a knee injury suffered in California. He is expected to be fitted for a new brace Tuesday and Winkin hopes Livingston can sneak into the lineup as the designated hitter in two or three weeks…. Senior first baseman Glenn Stupienski’s shoulder injury is likely to keep him out for up to eight weeks, which means redshirting could become an option…. Winkin plans to keep freshman Brian Joliffe at first base for his defensive prowess, even though he committed three errors in his first four games last week. – – –

University of Maine hockey center Cal Ingraham has been named to replace teammate Patrice Tardif on the East squad for the Shrine East-West College Hockey Classic, scheduled for Saturday, April 9, at Alfond Arena in Orono.

Ingraham was promoted from alternate status after Tardif signed with Peoria (Ill.) of the International Hockey League. The 5-foot-4 scrapper finished the season as the Black Bears’ third-leading scorer, notching 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points.

Ingraham will be UMaine’s lone representative on the East squad in the benefit contest that will feature all 10 finalists for the prestigious Hobey Baker Award that is presented annually to the nation’s top college player.