The Bobcats' backs are against the wall.
A mid-season spurt through the Mid-American Conference put them in position to make a serious run in the conference tournament, but offensive struggles are making them squeeze the bats a little tighter.
Their opponent, the Western Michigan Broncos, made use of timely base runners and a pair of big home runs to defeat Ohio 6-1 yesterday at Firestone Stadium in Akron. Ohio is now in a must-win situation today at 11 a.m. against Akron.
Pressure has rested squarely on the shoulders of pitchers Melissa Bonner and Emily Wethington, who have received little run support during the past week. The Bobcats scored just one run as Marshall swept them April 29. They were shutout in their series opener with Akron last weekend.
Yesterday's first-round game with Western didn't provide encouraging results at the plate.
Ohio started the game by putting two runners in scoring position in the top of the first inning with one out. A strikeout and a line out ended the initial threat.
The Broncos took over from there.
The squandered chance in the opening inning proved costly.
Western Michigan's Lexi Jager homered off Bonner in the bottom of the first, giving the Broncos a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
We know they have hitters that can hit the ball out of the park
coach Jodi Hermanek said. We gave up one early and it cost us.
We came up with people in position, but they made good defensive plays to get out of it. That's what you have to do in the postseason.
Alexis Zambrana walked in the second inning to load the bases with two down but the Broncos retired the next batter to end the inning.
Jager homered again off Bonner in the fourth inning this time it was a two-run homer deep to left field to give the Broncos a 3-0 lead.
Bonner lasted 3 2/3 innings
giving up nine hits and three runs before being replaced by Wethington
who did not fare much better.
She yielded a two-run double to Bronco starter Meredith Whitney in the bottom of the sixth
which sealed the Bobcats' fate. Ohio scored its only run in the top of the seventh when Paige Kemezis grounded out to score Lauren Histed from third.
Whitney struck out seven Ohio batters and scattered two hits during six innings of work
and was one of the big stories of the game.
We never extended ourselves to get people scored, Hermanek said. She threw a good game, and really did a great job keeping us off balance.
If there is a silver lining for the Bobcats
they also lost their opening-round game in last year's tournament
before advancing to the title game through the loser's bracket.,",2,Sports,Rob Mixer,28277a.jpg,Ohio left hander Melissa Bonner pitches the ball during the Bobcats
Ohio softball players have their eyes on Akron in MAC tournament play.,The Bobcats' backs are against the wall.
A mid-season spurt through the Mid-American Conference put them in position to make a serious run in the conference tournament
but offensive struggles are making them squeeze the bats a little tighter.
Their opponent
