An 0-24 record. A .192 team batting average. A 4.89 earned run average.

They’re not pretty numbers. But that’s what the University of Maine softball team is dealing with after wrapping up its two-week road trip to tournaments in Florida and Hawaii.

“The results are definitely hard for us to look at,” said third-year head coach Stacey Sullivan, whose Black Bears will get back to full practices today after arriving home from Hawaii Monday night.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do, but the outlook is very positive,” she added. “We believe our season hasn’t even really started yet because our focus from Day 1 has been the America East schedule.”

The 0-24 start is the worst in program history. The Bears went 0-6 to start in 2005 and 0-5 in 1980 and 1988.

Maine’s youth was exposed on its road trip, although the fact that the Bears have no seniors on their roster and just two players over the age of 21 was no secret. Sullivan had four or five freshmen starting some games, and at times only 12-13 healthy players.

And Maine’s spring trip schedule of 19 games in 18 days against teams like Texas, North Carolina, Hawaii, Penn State and South Florida was among the toughest in program history, the 1999 UMaine graduate said.

“The focus has never been, we’re 0-24 because the schedule is too hard,” Sullivan said. “The schedule wasn’t too hard, other than the Hawaii trip where we faced some really good teams. Every team in the country is playing is a successful schedule. If we’re going to win the America East title, we’ve got to face challenges before we get to the tournament so we’re prepared.”

UMaine will go back out on the road Saturday for a doubleheader against Providence. Sullivan said the field at the Rhode Island school is playable.

Two more games are on tap March 27 against Harvard. The weekend after that, the Bears travel to Stony Brook for their America East opener.

“I think it’s going to be very interesting to see what happens over the next couple of weeks,” Sullivan said. “But I’m very pleased with the way the [players’] attitudes are right now.”

While on the road the Black Bears lost eight one-run games. They also dropped 10 games in which they allowed five or more runs. They’ve been outscored 106-21 in the first five innings of their 24 games.

The Bears have struck out 194 times already and have only a .270 on-base percentage.

Sullivan said a lack of confidence, especially among Maine’s rookies, contributed to the Bears’ struggles at the plate.

“We saw a lot of jitters, a lot of overswinging, trying to hit home runs instead of base hits,” Sullivan said. “We’ve brought that down a notch and had pull the players individually and work with them, and work on their weaknesses.”

Maine’s pitchers didn’t have a good trip, either. The staff, which is led by Jenna Balent’s 3.94 ERA, has allowed 234 hits and 145 runs, 115 of which were earned. The Bears have also given up 104 walks.

Sophomore Alexis Souhlaris, who moved from full-time outfielder to pitcher this year, is 0-6 with a 5.30 ERA. She’s struggled at the plate, too, with a .221 batting average after a team-best .362 last season.

She’s back in center field and catcher-infielder Whitney Spangler is in batting in the leadoff spot, which Sullivan said seems to have taken some of the pressure off Souhlaris.

“Alexis is starting to catch on fire a little bit and she’s back to pounding the ball,” Sullivan said. “That’s where she needs to be because our offense has been lacking.”

Beyond the disappointing record and stats, there were bright points for the Bears.

Shortstop-second baseman Ashley Waters was certainly one of those. The junior is batting .333 with five home runs and team highs in runs (12) and hits (25). She’s tied with Spangler with eight RBIs, also a team-high.

One of Waters’ home runs came off Meagan Denny, the Texas pitcher who was just named the Big 12 conference Pitcher of the Week, in a 7-2 loss to the Longhorns.

Sullivan said Balent has looked better lately, especially her changeup. The 2006 America East Rookie of the Year held Texas to five scoreless innings.

“When it comes down to conference play, Jenna knows she needs to be the leader,” Sullivan said. “And she is the leader. She’ll set a tempo in the circle. After Jenna is where we need another pitcher to step up and keep us in games.”

Two of the youngest Bears had good starts to their careers.

Sullivan likes the development of freshman first baseman Kirstin Allen and freshman third baseman Terren Hall of Bucksport.

Hall, who is one of three players to have started all 24 games. Like the rest of the squad, she has struggled at the plate (.205) but has been consistent at third base.

Allen and Hall have been a big key to Maine’s .976 fielding percentage.

“They’ve been very composed and very smart,” Sullivan said. “… Terren really has a presence about her and I’m really excited about what she’s going to do over the course of the next couple of weeks.”

The Black Bears are hoping that development translates into a few wins heading into the conference schedule.

“We understand what’s ahead and what’s at stake,” she said. “The girls are working hard every day.”

jbloch@bangordailynews.net

990-8193