Fatigue is not an option for the Bobcats. With eight games remaining in the season, they must finish well to excel into the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
Ohio (17-19, 6-6 MAC) travels to New York and then to Northeast Ohio this weekend to take on Buffalo and Kent State.
“We know that the next eight games that we have we need to control our future and our destiny,” coach Jodi Hermanek said.
She added that the coaching staff is careful to keep an eye on the players to ensure they don’t get worn down while balancing academics, games and conditioning.
“The coach actually makes us go in and get ice,” said third baseman Paige Kemezis. “You just take the day for yourself, and it’s more to improve your body than to focus on softball. We do get those rest days to help us rejuvenate and help us get ready throughout the entire season.”
The team is required to take a rest day every sixth day after practice and games, which usually lands on Mondays for the Bobcats.
“In hindsight, when we are traveling as much as we are, they are only practicing two times a week,” Hermanek said. “We would always take advantage of our off days and let their bodies recoup.”
The trip from Athens to Buffalo will take about seven hours, and the travel to Kent from New York is about three hours, giving the Bobcats a break from last weekend’s road series to Western Michigan and Northern Illinois.
“If anything, it just gives us a chance to rest and get ready for our next opponent as opposed to just rushing into the bus,” Kemezis said.
Hermanek estimates the competition should be about the same at both schools, even if Kent is currently perched atop the MAC East and Buffalo is ranked below Ohio.
“Both teams are going to be competitive no matter what,” Hermanek said. “You put your best nine out there, and you expect them to perform at the highest level, and when you come off with a win at the end, it’s because you earned it.”
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