After a dominant performance in the Spiro Classic, where Ohio (6-4) won five straight, winning the tournament. The team will look to carry its winning streak into the Frost Classic. Over the past week, several Ohio players took home weekly awards, with Skipp Miller winning Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Week and Annalia Paoli winning MAC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week.
Now, the Bobcats head into the Frost Classic, facing a variety of teams who have had very different starts to their 2024 season.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the weekend.
Event Information
Opponents: UT Martin, Georgetown, Texas A&M - Corpus Christi, UT Chattanooga, Valparaiso
Location: Jim Frost Stadium (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
Times: Friday at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Saturday at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m.
Game One: UT Martin
2024 Record: 4-5
2024 Statistical Leaders
Batting Average: Katie Dreiling (.480)
Hits: Dreiling (13)
Runs: Kaci Fuller (8)
Home Runs: Three players (1)
RBI: Dreiling (11)
Innings Pitched: Brooklyn Linneman (14.0)
Strikeouts: Linneman (11)
ERA: Linneman (1.50)
Notes:
You don’t win games with one dominant player, but if there were any player who was going to take a game from Ohio, it would be Dreiling. She’s been lights out at-bat throughout the beginning of the season, making plays for herself and her teammates to score. On the other end, Linneman will pose a challenge to whoever lines up across from her at home plate.
Game Two: Georgetown
2024 Record: 6-4
Head Coach: Pat Conlan (17th season)
2024 Statistical Leaders
Batting Average: Gabby Park (.526)
Hits: Brooke Rebhan (11)
Runs: Rebhan (8)
Home Runs: Dayanara Campos and Samantha Miller (2)
RBI: Camryn Wincher (10)
Innings Pitched: Kayla Dunn (30.2)
Strikeouts: Dunn (24)
ERA: Dunn (2.74)
Notes:
Georgetown boasts a talented roster that’s seen success early in the season. Behind Conlan’s coaching and several versatile players who can make a play at-bat, they’ve won six straight games, scoring five or more runs in five of them. Kayla Dunn has also been excellent at the pitcher’s mound, keeping offenses from getting going.
Game Three: Texas A&M - Corpus Christi
2024 Record: 6-2
Head Coach: Kathleen Rodriguez (second season)
2024 Statistical Leaders
Batting Average: Alina Jasso (.417)
Hits: Isabella Hune and Monee Montilla
Runs: Jasso and Montilla (8)
Home Runs: Montilla and Taniece Tyson (1)
RBI: Paolina Baez and Kimane Rogron (6)
Innings Pitched: Primrose Aholeilei (29.1)
Strikeouts: Aholeilei (40)
ERA: Malia Williams (1.56)
Notes:
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi has played well on both ends to this point in the season. In terms of hitting, almost all of their qualifying hitters are over .300 in batting average, and several players have contributed at a high level in many other categories. Their pitching tandem of Aholeilei and Williams have also done their job well, boasting ERAs of below 1.75.
Game Four: UT Chattanooga
2024 Record: 6-4
Head Coach: Frank Reed (23rd season)
2024 Statistical Leaders
Batting Average: Acelynn Sellers (.417)
Hits: Cameron Cernuto (12)
Runs: Cernuto (8)
Home Runs: Olivia Lipari (3)
RBI: Lipari (8)
Innings Pitched: Taylor Long (17.1)
Strikeouts: Long (21)
ERA: Long (4.44)
Notes:
UT Chattanooga has gotten off to a hot start on the back of their offense, but how long that continues with the play of their pitchers could be up to question. Out of the five pitchers they’ve played this season, all have an ERA over 4.00.
Game Five: Valparaiso
2024 Record: 2-7
Head Coach: Meaggan Pettipiece (second season)
2024 Statistical Leaders
Batting Average: Kam Utendorf (.556)
Hits: Utenhorf and Regi Hecker (10)
Runs: Alexis Johnson (5)
RBI: CiCi Wilson (4)
Innings Pitched: Caitlyn Kowalski (19.2)
Strikeouts: Three players (7)
ERA: Kowalski (6.02)
Notes:
A quick overview of statistics would help to explain why Valparaiso hasn’t gotten off to a hot start in 2024. While Utendorf has fared well as a hitter, the rest of the team hasn’t provided anybody else with a batting average over .400. On top of that, none of Valparaiso’s pitchers have performed particularly well on the season.
