The Ohio softball team is four games into a stretch of seven of nine games at home. The only two road games are today at Toledo.
Ohio (12-23 overall, 6-6 Mid-American Conference) sits in fourth place in the East Division of the MAC and has a three-game home series this weekend looming with East Division leader Miami. With the big weekend series coming up, Ohio coach Roanna Brazier said it is important not to overlook Toledo (14-24, 2-10 MAC).
There is nobody in the MAC that we're playing that we can even think that we're going to win automatically just by showing up
she said. We're not going to take anybody lightly. If you go by statistics only we should beat Toledo. But you just never know on any given day.
Infielder Sarah Melvin said the games with Toledo are just as important as the games with Miami.
I take each team the same and I think that's what we're trying to do
she said. Just play our game and worry about us
not the other team.
Of the Bobcats' previous 10 games, nine have been decided by one run or needed extra innings. Ohio has gone 6-4 during that stretch. A big reason for those six wins has been the pitching of Ohio. Pitcher Kerri Harley (5-8) pitched 10 shutout innings during the weekend series against Buffalo.
Harley's dominance dates back to March 23. In nine appearances since then she has pitched in 39 innings and allowed only nine earned runs. She has lowered her ERA to 2.51.
As the season's gone on
the whole team has been improving
she said. That's helping me as a pitcher to throw better and be more confident out there than I was at the beginning (of the season).
Brazier said that Harley has done better at hitting her spots with her pitches and making the ball move.
That's what good pitchers do
and that's what she's starting to do much better now
Brazier said. She's keeping her composure on the mound
and she's just keeping us in the ballgame.
Melvin said the good pitching has helped other areas of the team.
Pitching hasn't always been our strength
and this year they've really come through
