For the first time this season, Ohio took a road trip headed in a direction other than south. The change in temperature caused Ohio and Ball State’s bats to head south, too.
With temperatures in the low 30s all weekend, the Bobcats (12-11) faced Ball State (4-18) in the first conference series of the year.
With the wind blowing in Ball State’s Ball Diamond, the Bobcats were able to muster only six runs during the three-game series and left Muncie with only one win.
Despite losing the series, Ohio coach Joe Carbone said he was pleased with his team’s performance.
“I thought we played well, but the conditions made it hard,” Carbone said. “We played hard, and we lost two tough games.”
After splitting the first two games of the series, Ohio managed just four hits in the rubber match Sunday and was shut out for the second time this season.
Ohio dropped the game 1-0.
While hits came rarely for Ohio, base runners did not. Two walks, two hit batsmen, and two errors created scoring opportunities for the Bobcats.
Ohio threatened with runners in scoring position in four consecutive frames but failed to bring a runner home each time.
Ethan Newton and Garrett Black each recorded two hits for Ohio.
For Ball State, consecutive walks in the first inning led to the Cardinal’s only run.
Carbone said the cold conditions limited hitting from both teams.
“We need the weather to warm up and for the wind to not be blowing in our face,” Carbone said. “Neither team hit the ball well, but it’s not something that is wrong with us or wrong with Ball State; it was just the conditions today.”
While hitters struggled at the plate all weekend, pitchers on both teams had quality outings.
For the Bobcats, Jason Moulton struck out eight. He allowed only one run on three hits in eight innings of work, but was still saddled with the loss yesterday.
“These kind of conditions are better for the pitcher,” Carbone said. “Pitchers on both sides threw well.”
This weekend’s series was the first conference series of the year; however, Carbone said that fact did not affect the way his team played.
“They all count. The conference games may mean more, but we play all the games the same way,” Carbone said. “We don’t put more importance on them because we’re trying to win all the games.”
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