Ohio is limping into the Mid-American Conference Tournament as its bats have struggled during recent weeks.
This weekend the Bobcats showed promise of a revitalized offense, but they are lacking consistency. Ohio scored six runs in game one against both Western Michigan and Northern Illinois before combining to score only one run second games of those series.
Lack of consistency at the plate could hamper the Bobcats’ chances to make a deep run in this week’s MAC Tournament as they will likely face each team’s ace. Despite the inconsistencies, this weekend was an improvement on their past two MAC series.
Ohio had dropped its last four games in the MAC after experiencing a 25 inning scoreless drought. The Bobcats snapped that streak early against Western Michigan on Friday when they scored three runs in the bottom of the second. The Broncos tied the game with a three-run homer in the top of the sixth.
With Ohio needing a clutch hit, junior right fielder Adrienne Gebele sent a two-run blast over the right centerfield fence for a 6-4 victory in game one.
The Bobcats could not carry that momentum over to game two of the doubleheader though, as Western Michigan pitcher Erin Binkowski held Ohio to a three-hit shutout and the Broncos grabbed game two 4-0.
Saturday, the Bobcats flipped the switch on at the plate against Northern Illinois. After giving up two in the top of the first, a tw- run homer by senior first baseman Alexandria Basquez tied the game.
“With them coming out and putting up two on the board in the first half of the inning,” assistant coach Kelly Miller said. “It was important for us to get our bats going and tying it up with that huge home run is always very nice to see.”
In the third, Ohio used a flurry of four runs to give sophomore pitcher Savannah Jo Dorsey all the run support she needed. After giving up a first homer, she settled in and recorded her eighth double-digit strikeout game of the season sitting down 13 Huskies. The Bobcats cruised to a 6-2 victory.
“It’s a lot of pressure off of my shoulders,” Dorsey said. “We always believe the offense will come through and it did today. It was awesome to see that and it was loose and fun out there on the mound.”
But unlike the day prior, Ohio wasn’t able to get into a groove at the plate Sunday.
Western Michigan pitcher Rebecca Rupard held Ohio to only one run on three hits. Rupard had plenty of run support to work with as the Huskies scored six against junior Lauren McClary and freshman Leanna Bachman for a 6-1 victory.
““We have to make sure those strides hit offensively,” coach Jodi Hermanek said. “We were in a lull today and really couldn’t sting some things together. We just have to make sure we’re attacking each side of the ball with the same intensity and that will carry us through the MAC Championship week.”
No. 5 Ohio (28-24, 12-8 MAC) will face No. 4 Kent State Wednesday in the first round of the MAC Tournament.
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