Ohio will begin its Mid-American Conference season this weekend when it hosts Central Michigan for a three-game series at Bob Wren Stadium.
The Bobcats desperately needed a fresh start. Ohio went just 4-14 in its first two months of nonconference play, but the Bobcats will receive a significant confidence boost if they begin their MAC schedule with a series win.
It won’t be easy, though. Central Michigan is 13-6 and built seven and five-game winning streaks in its first two months. The Chippewas enter MAC play with the best offense and second-best pitching staff in the conference, and the Bobcats rank last in offense and sixth in pitching.
Here’s what you need to know for the series:
Friday
First pitch: 6 p.m.
Projected starters: RHP Kenny Ogg (1-3, 5.06 ERA) vs. RHP Pat Leatherman (3-0, 2,08 ERA)
Saturday
First pitch: 3 p.m.
Projected starters: LHP Joe Rock (1-3, 7.77 ERA) vs. RHP Cam Brown (4-0, 3.68 ERA)
Sunday
First pitch: 1 p.m.
Projected starters: RHP Jack Liberatore (2-2, 2.88 ERA) vs. LHP Tyler Hankins (3-0, 4.29 ERA)
Scouting Central Michigan
Team Stats
Batting average: .307
On-base percentage: .416
Slugging percentage: .444
ERA: 3.51
WHIP: 1.40
Stat pack
- Zach Gilles leads the MAC with a .431 batting average.
- Jacob Crum has a conference-leading .731 slugging percentage.
- Leatherman hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in a start this season.
