The Bobcats got a taste of championship softball last season in Akron.
If they have any aspirations of double dipping, the road back to the Rubber City will likely go through their two opponents this weekend.
Since opening conference play with four consecutive losses, the Bobcats(19-18, 9-7 Mid-American Conference) have gone 9-3 in their last 12 conference contests to jump to fourth place in the MAC East division.
Still, they are looking up at today's opponent, Miami, which has a three-game lead on the Bobcats and will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. today.
The Bobcats will also play two games against West Division leaders Ball State tomorrow and Sunday.
Gaining ground against the red-hot RedHawks will not be easy. Miami(26-17, 12-4) has won nine of its last 10 games, including eight straight MAC victories.
Coach Jodi Hermanek's hitters face a daunting task to chase Miami ace Jessica Simpson from the circle.
In 23 starts, Simpson is 18-9 with a 1.93 ERA. She struck out 14 batters in a 1-0 win over Bowling Green on April 11.
Regardless of the pitcher, Hermanek maintained that her team's approach will remain the same.
The goal all season has been to limit the innings of the opposition's starting pitcher. Ohio pitcher Emily Wethington will also now be a target of hitters.
The Bobcats will need a performance out of Wethington similar to her complete game shutout against Bowling Green last weekend if they plan to shut down Miami and Ball State's offenses - hitting .277 and .267, respectively.
Our pitchers really need to hit the spots this weekend
Hermanek said. We're going to have to defend the speed of the game against these good teams.
These teams like to run. We have to make sure the infield is working for the outs.
The Bobcats have been swinging their own bats pretty well recently as well.
As a team they cranked out 31 hits against Toledo in a two-game series
including a school-record tying 20 hits in the second game.
Sophomore Paige Kemezis led the attack last weekend
batting .455 and registering three extra base hits for Ohio. She has 15 hits in 48 plate appearances compared to just four hits all of last year.
After seeing limited action last season
Kemezis has broken out in her second season for a team that's been dominant on its home turf.
It's just about being comfortable in your own surroundings, Hermanek said of the team's 5-1 mark at home. Obviously, you're going to know the playing surface better, too.
Faced with bad weather for much of the early schedule and even more recently
Hermanek doesn't mind a brighter forecast for the weekend.
It's a luxury these days, she joked.,",2,Sports,Rob Mixer,28029a.jpg,",",",",","
28028,2009-04-23 23:17:00,Track: Bobcats looking to add more regional qualifiers,Several Bobcats have qualified for the NCAA regional tournament
and several may still yet.,Four Bobcats have already qualified for the NCAA Mideast Regional Track and Field Championships
and that number could increase.
Junior distance runners Annie Beecham and Kari Summers (5
000-meter run)
as well as junior throwers Emily Amendola (hammer throw) and Bahiyjaui Allen (shot put) have secured their spots in the regional meet. It takes place May 29th through 30th in Louisville
