Marc Krauss realizes that his team's mind-set is not the greatest after losing eight consecutive games. Ohio (9-14, 0-6 Mid-American Conference) will get the opportunity to improve its state of mind today at Xavier, and Krauss said his team needs to regain this confidence in order to be successful.
Right now our mind-set and confidence are not where they should be
the first baseman said. We are really going to work hard on it this week and try and get some confidence back.
Krauss's recent plate appearances epitomize the overall lack of consistency found in the Ohio lineup. After he went 5-for-8 and hit four home runs against Youngstown State and Toledo during a two-game stretch, Krauss struck out in all four of his plate appearances in game two against the Rockets.
Like Krauss, coach Joe Carbone attributes this inconsistency to the Bobcats' overall lack of confidence.
The big thing is guys have to believe in themselves he said. Confidence comes from within their abilities
and guys have to overcome their doubts.
The Bobcats travel to Xavier having posted a 0-8 record on the road this season. The road struggles trickled back to Bob Wren Stadium this past weekend where the Bobcats were swept by Toledo, including an 18-6 walloping by the Rockets on Sunday.
The Bobcats are 0-4 when trailing after one inning and their record when trailing after four worsens to 0-12.
When leading after four innings, Ohio is 8-1, and outfielder Matt Stiffler said the Bobcats can't afford another slow start against the Musketeers.
It's hard to deal with
but it's part of the game
he said. It's not that hard to score five runs
but it does put a mental block in your head that this is going to be a long game.
Ohio will start left-hander Matt Smith (2-2, 7.12 ERA) today. In his last outing Smith lasted 4.1 innings and allowed five runs ' four of them earned ' in a no-decision. Like the Ohio lineup, Carbone said that Smith needs to find more stability on the mound.
He's the guy that needs to get more consistent
he said. He has good stuff
but then he will have an inning or two when he pitches behind everybody.
Consistency is the big key right now with a bunch of our guys. We are playing a lot of young guys, and you are going to get that, he added.,",17,Archives,Steve Gartner,200704034114midsize.jpg,",Bobcats hope to end losing streak at Xavier,",",","
18878,2007-04-03 06:10:00,In the Zone,",If Brad Bower wins Quarterback Race 2007 ' described in Friday's Post ' and is starting under center when the Bobcats host Gardner-Webb on Sept. 1
then Ohio football fans should demand a recount.
Quarterbacks coach Gerry Gdowski was quoted as saying that Bower was the front-runner for the job left vacant by Austen Everson's graduation. Actually
it would've been hard for Bower not to be named the front-runner. He's the most experienced of the five candidates and the lone senior.
That still doesn't mean he should be quarterbacking this team.
One look at the numbers will explain why. Although Bower was the most accurate of the quarterbacks
