John Winkin has been through a lot in his 38 years of coaching.

But the 18th-year University of Maine head baseball coach admitted that he can’t remember an early spring collapse like the one his Black Bears are in the midst of.

The Bears were expected to host the ECAC Tournament this spring, but they are 1-7 and in last place in the eight-team North Atlantic Conference. Only a miraculous finish can earn the Bears that opportunity.

They are 9-16 overall including two wins Oklahoma State and one over Louisiana State, both national powers, on their southern trip.

“I’m not pleased,” said Winkin. “This has been the hardest spring I’ve ever been through. It’s funny how everything caved in at once. There’s no question that we have the greatest challenge ahead of us that we’ve had in quite some time.”

At the outset of the season, the rebuilt pitching staff was the primary concern.

But the pitching hasn’t been the culprit.

Maine has hit a dismal .231 in its eight league games and has scored more than three runs only twice while averaging 2.6 runs per game. The Bears have four regulars hitting under .200 in league play in CF Chad White (.182), LF Justin Tomberlin (.174), 3B Shanan Knox (.143) and 1B Gabe Duross, who went 0-for-10 against Northeastern after missing the Delaware series with a separated shoulder.

Catcher Shawn Tobin, the leader in runs-batted in among returnees with 58 a year ago, and 2B Tim Scott, who was third among returnees in RBIs with 45, have combined for only one RBI in the eight league games.

Both have hit .286 in the NAC and Tobin has the RBI.

Shortstop Brian Seguin (.280 in NAC, 5 RBIs) is the only Bear with more than three RBIs in the eight games. Knox and RF Glen Stupienski (.263) have three apiece.

The two Bears who have shown some punch lately are sophomore transfer DH-RF Chris Altomari (.389 vs. Delaware and NU) and C-DH Steve Puleo (3-for-8, .375).

“I can’t fault the kids. The effort is there. It’s just that everybody is in a slump at once. And we haven’t had a decent weather day since we’ve been back,” said Winkin. “All we need is some sunshine, a little less wind and a chance to play at home. We just need to play. There’s no reason to panic. No reason to change.

“We haven’t played badly,” added Winkin. “We just haven’t come through with the big hit or made the big pitch. No one has risen up and come through for us.”

Maine was supposed to play Northeastern at home, but snow and wet field conditions moved the series to Brookline, Mass.

The leadoff spot has been a real problem as the three men who have hit there, Knox (6 games), Seguin (1) and Altomari (1), have gone 2-for-25 (.080) and scored only three runs.

The hitters in the Nos. 2-3-4 spots in the order are hitting .268 in NAC play, but have scored only four runs and driven in eight.

“We’ve had difficulties getting on base, particularly leading off an inning,” said Winkin, whose team has bounced into 13 double plays in the two series.

The starting pitching has been better than expected.

The top four starters of Mike D’Andrea, Ronnie Hewes, Jason Rajotte and Mark Ballard have gone at least five innings in their league starts. But each was hurt by a multiple-run inning.

“If you take away those innings, they’ve really pitched well,” said Winkin.

Hard-luck righty D’Andrea took a 1-0 lead into the sixth inning of the Northeastern game, but an unearned run resulting from a Seguin error tied it and NU won it with a run in the seventh. D’Andrea had taken a 3-1 lead into the seventh inning of a 4-3 loss to Delaware.

Those were the series openers.

“It doesn’t help when you don’t win the first game of the series and you lose both in the bottom of the seventh,” said Winkin.

Winkin knows the task at hand is a monumental one.

“But I never rule out anything until it’s all done. We’ve had (winning) streaks before and this team is capable of putting one together,” said Winkin.