Ohio’s 0-3 weekend against Kent State cemented in the standings what had been shown all year: this is the worst team in the Mid-American Conference. If not convincingly, the 4-14 record the Bobcats currently hold is tied for the bottom spot in the conference.
Meanwhile, across the MAC, Ohio’s contemporaries are earning the right to Fly the Flag, referring to when a MAC team upsets a High-Major team, at a seemingly more common rate than ever.
Even Northern Illinois, which holds the tie with Ohio for last place in the conference, was able to Fly the Flag. Last week, in a game against Big Ten program Northwestern, Northern Illinois scored a program-high 27 runs in the upset victory.
About two weeks ago, Ohio’s vanquishers from this past weekend, Kent State, went into Columbus for an 8-3 victory over Ohio State. Two weeks before, Eastern Michigan did the same in Ann Arbor, taking a 9-8 victory over Michigan.
While the rest of the MAC is proving the conference as one of the best in Mid-Major baseball, Ohio has struggled to prove itself capable of winning a series. Ohio’s home-opening weekend against Butler was the last time it was able to do so, just three weeks into the 2025 season.
Looking at the offensive numbers, it’s difficult to gauge why Ohio is so bad. The Bobcats possess the conference’s leader in home runs in sophomore outfielder Ben Slanker, who also ranks second in RBIs and first in slugging percentage. Ahead of him in Ohio’s lineup is freshman shortstop Matt Ineich, ranking third in batting average and hits.
Ohio’s offense is undoubtedly one of the most explosive in the MAC, ranking third in home runs. However, when it comes to finding consistent, small-ball scores, Ohio has struggled, ranking eighth in total runs scored.
Although Ohio’s offense, especially towards the top, has been incredible, the team’s opponents outmatch them in every regard. The Bobcats’ batting average of .293, ranking fifth in the MAC, looks much less impressive compared to the .316 average their opponents have tallied against them.
Pitching has been a major issue for Ohio. The season-ending injury senior pitcher Dillon Masters sustained at the end of March was a hit to the team’s depth, forcing Ohio coach Craig Moore to shift around his typical rotation of starters.
Ohio has been without the help of 2025 Brooks Wallace Award Watchlist selectee in sophomore shortstop JR Nelson since the end of March, going out in the same game Ohio lost Masters. Although it has allowed Ineich to slide over to his more natural position, from second base to shortstop, Ohio has been left with holes to plug in other spots.
Most notably, Ohio has yet to answer the question of who plays first base. The most common answer has been sophomore Trae Cassidy, but with the defensive utility he brings to his natural position at catcher, it’s a give-and-take for Moore.
On the other side of the diamond, fifth-year third baseman Nick Dolan has been out of form, lacking the shutout glove he had last season. Dolan’s 13 errors lead the team, seeing a rise in misses and a drop in his overall fielding percentage in 2025.
The most consistent issue for Ohio; however, has come in the bullpen. The Bobcats’ opening series of MAC play against the Falcons of Bowling Green was a sign of things to come. Ohio held a lead or a tie through seven innings in all three games, before blowing up in the eighth in every game to start MAC play 0-3.
All these factors have contributed to a more discouraging product every time the Bobcats take the field. In the most recent series against Kent State, Ohio was outscored 40-11, only going the full nine innings in the third and final game.
With the persisting issues, uncomfortable conversations will need to be had as the offseason nears. With a month left, Ohio’s dug itself into a hole so deep its chances of doing more than watching come time for the MAC Tournament are all but certain.
