After beginning its season with their best start in program history, Ohio proceeded to lose 11 of its next 12 games. However, the team will look to regain their early-season stride Friday during their home opener against Wright State.
The Raiders have struggled throughout this season, and the Bobcats are in need of a morale booster after losing to three schools that received votes in the Top 25 poll, highlighted by No. 16 South Alabama.
“We’re not going to dwell on the losses whatsoever,” coach Jodi Hermanek said. “The losses were certain games that could have gone one way or another in certain situations. We’re going to keep focused on the positive things that we walk away with holding our heads high.”
Ohio has won three of its last four games against the Raiders, including a 13-1 romp in a doubleheader sweep last year. But even against a team that is statistically inferior, Hermanek doesn’t want to overlook any opponents as the team enters what she considers “the second half” of the season.
“We have to take each inning and each game for what it brings you and we can’t overlook anybody,” she said. “We’ve got to bring our best game forward no matter what the opposition is like on the other side of the field. We just have to focus on us … and we’ll hopefully get the outcome we worked for when we do those things.”
The more significant difference between the two sides is Ohio’s offensive firepower and Wright State’s lack thereof.
Opponents have batted .356 against the Raiders, while Wright State batters have posted an average of just .189 this season.
Becka Peterson, a freshman infielder for the visitors, has the highest batting average of any Raider, hitting .244. If she were on the Ohio roster, she’d find herself ninth in the same statistical category.
With the Raiders 0-5 on the road, Friday’s game could be an opportunity for the Bobcats to slowly gear up for the Mid-American Conference play to begin in two weeks.
“It’s always exciting to be on your own home field for the first time,” Hermanek said. “Even getting our first practice on the field this week was a lot of excitement for the girls. We’re really looking forward to getting in front of our fans and the home crowd. Being in our own setting is very comforting to us.”
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