Ohio will get its season started this weekend when it travels to Spartanburg, South Carolina, to take on a tough opponent in Wofford. After a disappointing season in 2024, Ohio will look to get out on the right foot with a series victory to begin the new year.
Wofford is coming off an impressive season where it won the Southern Conference in 2024 and made a run to the NCAA Tournament in June last year.
Here is everything you need to know before Friday’s first pitch:
Series Information
Opponent: Wofford
Location: Russel C. King Field (Spartanburg)
Times: Friday at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. OR Sunday at 1 p.m. (pending weather)
Follow live stats here
Games one and two can be streamed here
Wofford notes
Coach: JJ Edwards (second season)
Top Returning Talent:
Top returning bat: Lucas Manning (.343/.493/.435 in 2024)
Top returning pitcher: Kenny Michaels (4.78 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 2024)
Wofford is coming off one of its best seasons in program history, where it won the Southern Conference before falling in a tight-contested battle with LSU in the NCAA Tournament. Although the Terriers have lost most of its statistical production since last season, it remains a formidable opponent that could give Ohio trouble in its opening series.
In the recently released Southern Conference preseason poll, Wofford was selected to finish third in the conference, with one vote to finish first. Additionally, the Terriers had three players selected to the preseason All-Southern Conference first team, including outfielders David Wiley and Andrew Mannelly and relief pitcher Kenny Michaels.
Ohio Notes:
Top Returning Talent:
Top returning bat: JR Nelson (.312/.381/.377 in 2024)
Top returning pitcher: Blake Gaskey (6.16 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 2024)
Probable starting pitchers for Ohio:
Game One: Blake Gaskey
Game Two: Jacob Tate
Game Three: Dillon Masters
Ohio was recently selected to finish eighth in the Mid-American Conference, a ranking that Ohio coach Craig Moore and his team think they can outperform. In its opening series against Wofford, Ohio will likely be facing its toughest competition for a weekend series until MAC play starts, so winning the series would be huge.
Former standout freshmen JR Nelson and Pauly Mancino will be making their sophomore season debuts against Wofford as they both attempt to add to what they accomplished last season. Additionally, former transfer Blake Gaskey will take the ball in Game One looking to cement himself as a front-line starter for the Bobcats.
