Ohio will get exactly what its needs in Marshall: a distraction.
After the Bobcats’ series against Ball State ended in an ugly fashion Saturday and Sunday, they have had little time to reflect before playing a mid-week doubleheader at Marshall — Ohio’s second-biggest rival behind Miami.
Marshall has owned the softball version of the Battle of the Bell lately after winning 16 of the last 19 games since 2004. Ohio has not won more than once in a season.
“I think it’s going to be good for us to get back on the field fast, not that I scheduled it that Ball State was going to happen the way that it did,” coach Jodi Hermanek said. “At this stage of the season it’s not about continual teaching, but having them find that level of consistency mentally, physically as a team.”
The Bobcats seemed to find that consistent level of play before running into Ball State. Ohio had been the winners of seven straight in Mid-American Conference games. But a rivalry game should heighten Ohio’s level of play.
“You get them so many times and it’s not just about our team, it’s about our school and the towns,” Hermanek said. “It’s the Battle of the Bell, it’s more of a representation of who you are playing for. You’re not just trying to be the best softball team on the field, but to represent the institution with the most pride.”
Marshall’s offense could challenge the Ohio pitching staff, but that is nothing new for the Bobcats. Hermanek will look to handle her staff as normal, though, with sophomore Savannah Jo Dorsey pitching as long as she can in the first game and with freshman Leanna Bachman and junior Lauren McClary combining in the circle for the second game.
One bat in particular Dorsey and company will look to stop is sophomore third baseman Shaelynn Braxton, who is second in Conference USA with 15 home runs. Three other members of the Thundering Herd are batting above .330.
That might prove to be a problem for Ohio if it cannot get its bats going, but the Bobcats will hope to rely on freshman left fielder Taylor Saxton who has proved to be a menace to handle on the base paths. But since moving up to the No. 2 spot in the order, she hasn’t been producing at the same level as before and looks at this rivalry to turn things around.
“We always want to get a win against an Ohio team,” Saxton said. “I think of them as an Ohio team because they are so close. No one likes Marshall because we’re green and they’re green it heightens the intensity. I think we play better when it’s a rivalry team, so obviously we want to get a couple wins.”
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