The close nature of the Ohio softball team's two losses to Western Michigan earlier this season has left coach Jill Matyuch with a feeling of confidence.
We can beat them
Matyuch said.
Matyuch's confidence must carry down to her players as the Bobcats prepare for tonight's first-round Mid-American Conference matchup with the top-seeded Broncos.
Ohio (26-38, 7-15 MAC) snuck into the tournament as the No. 8-seed by holding a tiebreaker over Miami, who had the same conference record as the Bobcats. The team is on a three-game losing streak, but the bigger concern may be that it scored zero runs over that stretch.
Second baseman Alicia Catlette was quick to dispel any concerns.
We're looking at it like we did at the beginning of the season with people having low expectations for us so we're going in it like we have nothing to lose Catlette said.
Western Michigan (31-13, 18-4 MAC) is riding a three-game winning streak and won 30 games in a season for the third time in the last four years. Four-time MAC West Pitcher of the Week Krysten Shumaker is the ace of the Broncos' staff, going 16-5 this year with a 1.13 earned run average and 202 strikeouts.
They're a strong emotional team
Matyuch said of Western Michigan. It's definitely important to get off to a good start against them.
The Bobcats got off to a good start in the second of two meetings between the teams this season, jumping out to a 4-1 lead after two innings thanks to a Bronco error that led to three Bobcat runs. However, Western Michigan battled its way back into the game and used a three-run sixth inning to help beat Ohio, 5-4.
The first game between the teams was a classic pitchers' duel between Shumaker and the Ohio tandem of Michelle Sauter and Candace Warden. Although Sauter and Warden combined to only give up three hits and one run, Shumaker handcuffed the Bobcats' hitters, allowing one hit and striking out nine in a 1-0 Bronco victory.
Tonight's game will start at 7:30 p.m. at Currie Stadium in Midland, Mich. The winner of tonight's game will advance to the winners' bracket of the double-elimination tournament and play at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, while the loser will be entered into the losers' bracket and play at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
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Jason Fazzone
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Michelle Sauter and the Bobcats wind up for the next meeting with the top-seeded Western Michigan on Wednesday. The Bobcats lost two games to the Broncos earlier in the season and will face the team again in their first-round MAC matchup.
