After dropping its second consecutive game and five of its last seven, the Ohio baseball team heads to Youngstown State today looking to pick up the pieces.
The Bobcats (13-23 overall, 6-9 Mid-American Conference) took one game of a three-game set against Buffalo last weekend, their fourth loss in a MAC series in five tries this season. With three conference series remaining on the schedule, Ohio's chances to reach the MAC Tournament are dwindling. The Bobcats try to make some improvements today against a Youngstown State squad of the Horizon League.
The Penguins (13-21, 3-5 Horizon League) have played near .500 baseball recently but struggled early on, losing 13 of 14 games at one point. After a 10-inning victory against Butler Sunday, Youngstown State split its second straight weekend series.
Ohio's offense has sputtered as of late, managing 11 runs last weekend but just three in the last two games combined. In those final two contests, the Bobcats managed just 11 hits.
We're not getting our pitch and driving it
Ohio coach Joe Carbone said. We're not doing the things we need to do to win as far as offensively in the game.
The first four spots in the lineup produced one hit in 27 at-bats, an average of .037, in the final two games.
We have some guys that aren't performing up to expectations and young guys that are still struggling to figure out what it's like to play in college Carbone said.
Ohio sends righty Marc Cornell to the hill. In his last appearance, the preseason MAC Pitcher of the Year was roughed up in a 13-4 loss at the hands of Cincinnati. Cornell (0-2) surrendered eight runs on nine hits in three innings of work, walking five Bearcats while striking out two.
The Bobcats and Penguins meet today in the first of two scheduled games this season. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Eastwood Field in Youngstown.
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T.J. Lasita
