A quick glance at the University of Maine baseball team’s early batting statistics might reveal cause for concern.

Not only are four Black Bear regulars hitting below .240, a handful of team members have been hampered by injuries.

That hasn’t kept UMaine from having a successful southern swing. Coach Paul Kostacopoulos’ Bears are 9-3 heading into tonight’s opener of a three-game series at nationally-ranked Clemson that will conclude their annual trip.

While UMaine is batting only .288, its defense and pitching have been outstanding. And the Bears have committed only five errors in their first 12 games.

“The defense has been the difference why we’re 9-3 instead of maybe 6-6,” Kostacopoulos said. “We’ve really been exceptional. We’ve turned 13 double plays already.”

The infield rotation of second baseman Brett Ouellette, third baseman Joe Drapeau of Biddeford, middle infielders Steve Gambale and Mike Ferriggi, catcher Aaron Izaryk and first baseman Jesse Carlton has gotten the job done.

Starting shortstop Mark Reichley has been limited to five games because of an injury, while Ferriggi also has seen his playing time reduced because of an ailment. Most recently, a hand injury to Drapeau has kept him out of action.

UMaine’s younger players have stepped in and played well after a string of injuries to several starters. Freshman Gambale has filled in well in the infield, while classmates Ryan Quintal and Joe Hough have been solid stepping in for left fielder Simon Williams of Portland and center fielder Mike Livulpi, who have been slowed by leg injuries.

“I’m really happy with the younger guys and the way they’ve responded,” Kostacopoulos said. “Every team has injuries and they went in there and did the job.”

Pitching has been another forte for the Bears, who have a 3.87 team earned run average with 102 strikeouts and 41 walks in 100 innings. Freshman righthander Greg Norton of South Portland is off to a 3-0 start with a 3.18 ERA while junior righties Mike Collar of Scarborough (1-1, 2.40) and Mike MacDonald of Camden (1-1, 2.57) have set the tone for consistency. Junior Ryan Harris (1-1, 4.80), sophomore Greg Creek of Chelsea and senior Adam Labelle have been solid.

“We’re getting consistency. Every time they get the ball, they’re getting into the sixth or seventh inning,” Kostacopoulos said of his starters.

Izaryk leads the offense with a .390 average and 12 RBIs, while Livulpi (.371), Carlton (.357, 3 HR, 11 RBIs), designated hitter Alain Picard (.333, 1 HR, 17 RBIs) and Ouellette (.293, 11 RBIs) have been productive.

“Fortunately, our pitching and our defense came first,” said Kostacopoulos, who expects the bats will heat up as the season progresses. As for the Clemson series, “this is not the weekend you want to be going in struggling offensively.”

UMaine is expected to start MacDonald in tonight’s opener at Clemson, followed by Harris on Friday and Collar in Saturday’s finale.