Every coach will tell you that it's all about getting hot at the right time.
Six consecutive wins have catapulted the Bobcats up the Mid-American Conference standings, and helped secure a berth in the upcoming conference tournament in Akron.
It has become increasingly evident that Ohio's brutal non-conference schedule has positively impacted its MAC schedule.
Coach Jodi Hermanek has stressed the importance of making small strides, including her mantra of getting one percent better every day.
Ohio was plagued by small miscues and yielded leads earlier in the season, but is now showing poise and confidence in the pressure situations.
We've been focusing on playing good softball every inning
Hermanek said.
This weekend our focus is about competing hard and being aggressive -- that's the mentality we're working with right now.
Ohio's final road tests come this weekend at rival Miami today, and then a weekend finale with MAC West leader Ball State.
Like the Bobcats, the RedHawks have locked up a berth in the conference tournament but are also jockeying for position up or down the seeding ladder.
With four more wins this weekend, Ohio could conceivably earn the top seed going into next week, but with a sub-.500 weekend, it could also fall to fourth.
Against strong hitting clubs like Miami and Ball State, the bulk of attention will center on Ohio's stingy pitching staff. The Cardinals are hitting .294 as a team (best in the MAC) and have six players with averages above .300.
Ball State is swinging it really well and they utilize speed across their lineup
Hermanek said. We need to get the key outs and get the leadoff batter out every time we can.
When we have the opportunity
we have to work the ball around to keep them from moving people over.
The RedHawks, defending conference champions, hit .264 as a team with three players better than .300, but their real strength is in the circle.
Miami's pitchers hold a collective 1.99 ERA and are among the league leaders in strikeouts.
Their pitchers are command location pitchers
Hermanek said. They have a high level of experience and won the MAC title last year.
We're going to see better pitching (as the tournament nears)
but offensively we're trying to get extension on our hits and keep the same game plan going.
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Rob Mixer
