After experiencing offensive inconsistencies last weekend, Ohio will attempt to regroup and continue Mid-American Conference play when it travels to the northwest part of the state this weekend.
The Bobcats (17-12) will play a doubleheader against Toledo on Friday, before playing a pair of games against Bowling Green on Saturday and Sunday.
Last weekend, Ohio opened MAC play with a split against Kent State and Buffalo, as the Bobcats scored eight runs in one game against both teams, while recording just three combined hits in the other two games.
“I’m really holding onto the Buffalo loss, because it’s my first one,” Ohio coach Jodi Hermanek said. “This is a long MAC season with a lot of games left and we just need to own up to the things we need to get better (at) and focus on them.”
Hermanek also noted that her team might have taken Buffalo lightly, as the Bulls have won just six games this season.
Toledo (6-20, 0-4 MAC) is also sitting at the bottom of the MAC standings, but has been better than its record states.
The Rockets have the second-best team batting average (.291) in the conference, paced by senior infielder Courtney McCarthy, who has posted a .383 average, along with three homers and 16 RBI.
While the Toledo offense has experienced success this season, its pitchers have combined for a 6.54 ERA and have allowed 24 home runs this season — a mark the Bobcat offense will hope to increase Friday.
Ohio has hit 42 home runs, which is just five short of tying the program’s single-season record set in 2012. The Bobcats are also averaging the seventh-best home run per game average in the NCAA.
Senior first baseman Caitlin Colvin is also ranking among the best in the country, as she is No. 7, nationally, in home runs with 13 — tied for the programs single-season record.
“Every game in the MAC conference is a dog fight, because every team is working for one of eight positions at the conference tournament,” Hermanek said. “It’s anybody’s game and you can’t take anyone for granted.”
Pitchers Lauren McClary, a sophomore, and Savannah Jo Dorsey, a freshman, will also attempt to counter the Rockets from inside the circle. The duo combined to allow just three earned runs last weekend.
“There was a lot of hype for me going into MAC play, because it was my first college tournament play,” Dorsey said. “But every game we treat the same because we are trying to get every win we can.”
After the Toledo doubleheader, the Bobcats will make a short trip to play the Falcons (15-11, 1-3 MAC) for a pair of games. Bowling Green is tied for the third-best winning percentage in the MAC this season.
The four-game road trip will be the last away game from Athens until April 20, as the Bobcats will play 10 consecutive contests at home.
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