Ohio will return to Mid-American Conference play this weekend as it hosts Northern Illinois, starting Friday with a doubleheader and a single game on Saturday. Originally, the schedule had the single and doubleheader switched, but because of expected inclement weather, the series was changed.
The Bobcats (22-10, 3-0 MAC) are coming off a come-from-behind win against Northern Kentucky. Tied at one in the bottom of the sixth inning, senior Morgan Geno hit a two-run home run to lift the Bobcats to a 3-1 win.
This weekend will be Ohio’s last home series until April 26 and 27, when it’ll host rival Miami. The Bobcats do have one weekday game in that stretch, which will be April 10 against Kent State.
Game information
Opponent: Northern Illinois (14-15, 1-1 MAC)
First pitch: 1 and 3 p.m. on March 29 and 11 a.m. on March 30
Venue: Ohio Softball Field
How to watch: ohiobobcats.com
Meet the opponent
In the circle
No. 17 Mackenzie Bryan (8-6, 3.04 ERA, 73.2 IP, 64 SO)
No. 3 Alex Frenz (5-6, 3.10 ERA, 81.1 IP, 38 SO)
On deck
No. 6 Katie Keller (55 AB, .455 avg., 12 RBI)
No. 5 Bianca Barone (52 AB, .346 avg., 10 RBI)
No. 14 Kira Mickelson (70 AB, .343 avg., 10 RBI)
Recent games
Northern Illinois hasn’t played since March 24 when it split a doubleheader with fellow conference foe Buffalo.
The Huskies lost the leadoff game in an 8-4 game with Frenz in the circle. Their offense was generated by a Mickelson RBI to start off, followed by one run in the third inning and two in the fourth. Buffalo scored eight unanswered runs to end the game.
In its 10-4 win, Northern Illinois generated six of its runs in the second inning. Bryan pitched for her eighth win of the season.
Last time out
Last season, the Huskies were one of four teams to run-rule the Bobcats. In DeKalb, Illinois, they lost one of the three games in a 15-5 blowout. Ohio did, however, go on to win the series as it won both of the games in the doubleheader.
