The struggles for Ohio will keep lingering over the team until it is able to start a week with an early victory before beginning another weekend series on the road.
The squad, which is currently riding a 10-game losing streak, looks to end the slump and win its first midweek game of the season when it heads to Dayton for a match-up with the Flyers.
The importance of successful performances in midweek games means more than just a chalking of a tally in the win column.
“Midweek games really get us prepared for the weekend and conference play, which (is what) really counts,” said junior left fielder Tyler Wells. “We started really focusing on these midweek games … so we really want to build on those.”
The problem for the Bobcats is that they have been blanked on midweek victories in their four attempts this season.
Pitching has been a problem during the week, as well, being that the Bobcats generally start pitchers from outside their weekend rotation.
In the four games played during the week, the Bobcats have used a total of 30 pitchers, including three games where they used seven or more.
During these games, sophomore pitcher Jake Miller and freshman Gerry Salisbury have each gotten to start twice.
Only one time has the starting pitcher gone for more than four innings pitched, and the starter been pulled after one inning of work in two of the four games.
In these games, Ohio’s pitchers have allowed 32 earned runs on 47 hits and 18 walks.
This has not been the only problem for the Bobcats, however. They have allowed the opponent to cross the plate for a combined 22 times in the sixth through ninth innings of their mid-week games this season.
That’s something that will need to be fixed in order for the team to get back on track, especially with the Dayton trip and a home game against Rio Grande on back-to-back days.
“We have to look at the small things,” Wells said. “We have to learn how to compete more in the last couple innings, and we really think things will start coming our way and turning around for us here in the next couple weeks.”
Dayton, which currently sits at third place in the Atlantic 10 Conference, is on a four-game winning streak and has been victorious in seven of its last eight contests.
Last Wednesday, the Flyers defeated Ohio State in Columbus by a score of 8-5. The Bobcats fell to the Buckeyes 11-6 on April 1.
Dayton senior infielder Robby Sunderman has lead the Flyers with a team-high 31 runs on a team-best 48 hits. Despite only playing in 22 of the team’s 33 games so far, junior first basement A.J. Ryan is the only player on the roster with a batting average better than .400 (.419).
Ohio coach Rob Smith said that in order for the team to get out of its slump, players have to start thinking of the big-picture and why the team is faltering.
“We have to stay focused on trying to get better as a team,” he said. “We have to keep identifying what our shortcomings are and how to improve on them and get better with it.”
@Alex_Busch91
ab109410@ohiou.edu
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What: Ohio (5-27, 1-11 MAC) at Dayton (16-17, 8-4 A-10)
Where: Woerner Field, Dayton
Probable Pitcher: TBA
