The Ohio baseball team must face its second great challenge of the young season when the Bobcats travel to play UNC Greensboro for a three-game series this weekend.
Other than the weather, Ohio (2-2) has not played an opponent of the Spartans' caliber. But playing tough teams is part of the non-conference schedule, Ohio coach Joe Carbone said.
That's why I like playing this team
Carbone said. They don't beat themselves.
At 7-1, UNC Greensboro has almost had more games cancelled (three) than the Bobcats have played (four).
The Spartans also earned both Pitcher and Player of the Week honors for the Southern Conference last week. Outfielder Ryan Gordon had a homer and nine runs batted in, while batting .571 last week.
Nick Starnes (1-0), meanwhile, gave up just two hits and a run over five innings in the Spartans' win.
UNC Greensboro did lose its last game, a 1-0 defeat to UNC Wilmington, but the Spartans also won their previous seven.
But the Bobcats are coming off a productive performance on a nice sunny day. They beat West Virginia State, 14-0, Tuesday. In that game, five Ohio hitters had at least two RBIs or two runs scored.
Equally, if not more importantly, the team issued just three walks compared to seven strikeouts. That will be important in keeping the Spartans off the bases and avoiding giving up big innings.
For Ohio, Adam Russell (0-0) will take the mound Friday, while Rob Harmon gets the ball Saturday and Chris Bova earns the start on Sunday. Bova (1-1) started Ohio's shutout against West Virginia State.
We're going to need all the pitchers to go out and beat them Carbone said.
The three-game series begins at 4 p.m. Friday at UNC Greensboro.
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Eric Pfahler
