Ohio hosts Bowling Green for three-game weekend series during Moms Weekend.
With a committee of pitchers gaining confidence by day, Ohio is bringing a four-game winning streak into its home series against Bowling Green this weekend.
The Bobcats (18-12, 5-4 Mid-American Conference) will host the Falcons for three games – 6 p.m. Friday and then 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday – with a chance to achieve a season best seven-game win streak.
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On the mound for Ohio on Friday will be junior right-hander Jake Miller (2-1, 2.89 ERA), who will be making just his second start in 16 appearances this season for the team. In his last outing, Miller tossed 5 1/3 innings against Buffalo and gave up just one run on four hits while striking out eight to earn the win.
Junior Connor Sitz (4-1, 4.62 ERA) will start Saturday’s game, and sophomore Jake Rudnicki (2-2, 7.75 ERA) will get the ball first on Sunday. Sitz and Rudnicki are tied for the team lead in starts with nine each.
None of the Ohio starters will likely face more than three innings of work against Bowling Green (9-18, 3-6 MAC) because Bobcats coach Rob Smith said the team will continue its strategy of pitching with a committee of players.
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The Bobcats threw nine pitchers, who each went exactly one inning, in Wednesday’s 4-2 victory over Marshall.
Infielders David Hamlett, a redshirt senior, and Tyler Finkler, a sophomore, made their pitching debuts for Ohio in the past two games, throwing a combined 2 1/3 innings and giving up two runs.
Hamlett and Finkler might expect to see more time on the mound in the near future if Smith wants to rest his pitching staff or potentially explore more pitching options.
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If Ohio can sweep the Falcons this weekend, it would be the Bobcats’ second straight sweep of a MAC opponent and would extend their conference win total to eight games. Ohio amassed just seven wins in 27 MAC contests last season.
The Bobcats are just 2-3 at home this season, but they welcome a Bowling Green team that has struggled to a 2-9 record on the road.
jh950614@ohio.edu
@JordanHorrobin
