After beginning its Mid-American Conference schedule last weekend, the Ohio softball team will take a break from its conference slate when they hit the road today for a non-conference doubleheader against Kentucky.
The twin bill will be the second time the teams have met this season and the fifth time in school history. Earlier in the season at the Frostbite Classic, hosted by the Wildcats, Ohio fell behind early and never recovered in a 6-3 loss.
Although the Bobcats (17-17, 2-2 MAC) dropped their previous contest with the Wildcats (14-22), coach Jill Matyuch said the Bobcats performed well against the Southeastern Conference squad.
I think we played strongly against them last time
Matyuch said. Any time you can get three runs against a team with that good of pitching you have to be happy with your chances.
Third baseman Emily Futscher remains confident of the Bobcats' chances of knocking off a major-conference school.
I thought we could take them last time and I still think we can take them this time
Futscher said.
Despite struggling in conference play and currently riding a nine-game losing streak, Kentucky has flourished against non-conference opponents, going 12-6 outside of the SEC against mainly mid-major competition.
Matyuch acknowledged the advantages Kentucky might have in today's matchups but said it is nothing new for the youthful Bobcats.
With us just getting back from a road trip and now having to go to Kentucky
the cards are definitely stacked against us
Matyuch said, but Ohio seems to thrive on that.
While the Wildcats enter today's contests struggling, the Bobcats are fresh off a dominating 7-2 victory at Ball State. After managing only one run in Saturday's 6-1 loss against the Cardinals, Ohio rebounded, collecting 13 hits and scoring in all but two innings to come home on a winning note.
Pitcher Natalie Armstrong, who pitched strongly in her fifth start of the season Sunday, said the team will prepare for today's games just like they have done for its prior matchups.
You just have to go out there and play like you always do
Armstrong said. We played pretty well against them last time
and I think we'll do alright this time around.
First pitch for the first game of the doubleheader is slated for 5 p.m. today with a tentative 7 p.m. start time for the second game at the UK Softball Complex.
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