After a tough first series to begin Mid-American Conference play, Ohio will have a chance to rediscover its consistency against a nonconference opponent Tuesday.
The Bobcats will play Morehead State in Morehead, Kentucky, on Tuesday at 5 p.m. after dropping two of three games to Bowling Green in their first conference series of the season.
Ohio began March with a 6-2 stretch, including a sweep of Towson and a five home run game against High Point. Since the showcase of power against the Panthers on March 14, however, the Bobcats reversed fortunes and have endured a 2-4 slip-up.
Based on the trends of either team, Ohio (12-10) may have its hands full against Morehead State (14-11) on Tuesday — the Eagles have won seven of their past nine games.
Tuesday's game will also be Ohio's last stop in its 22-game road stretch to start the season.
Scouting Morehead State
If the Bobcats want to win on Tuesday, they will likely need to shut down one key player on the Eagles.
Braxton Morris stands out among any other player in Morehead State's lineup — the senior sports a .430 batting average in 100 at-bats and is 15th in the nation in batting average.
Morris has yet to register a home run in 2018, but he's almost a lock to reach base in any game. He currently owns a 20-game hitting streak and has finished hitless in just two of Morehead State's 25 games this season.
One of Morris' hitless games, however, occurred as a result of drawing five walks against UMass Lowell on Feb. 17.
Morris had no issues with Ohio's pitching in their single midweek game last season. The infielder went 3-for-4 and led the Eagles in hits en route to the Bobcats' 3-1 defeat in 2017.
The rest of Morehead State's offense has swung a hot bat — seven of the Eagles' nine starters own a batting average over .280.
The Eagles' offense also has experience against one of the top teams in the nation. Morehead State's pitching struggled to pick up a solid offensive performance against then-No. 8 Louisville in a 16-10 loss on March 6.
Probable pitchers
Coach Rob Smith typically utilizes a plethora of bullpen pitchers for the Bobcats' weekday games.
In Ohio's first midweek game of the season against High Point, the sixth-year coach threw nine pitchers. Smith usually gives each selected pitcher an inning of work.
Morehead State is expected to start freshman Will Lozinak. The right-hander has accrued a 3.27 ERA in 11 innings in 2018.
