Ohio finally leaves the confines of Athens and heads to Kent State University to play its second-to-last road series against Kent State. This is the final three-series stretch for Ohio, a team that is gunning for a chance to snag a higher seed in the Mid-American Conference.
Ohio (29-15, 11-7 MAC) is coming off its last non-conference game against Marshall, in which it won 4-2 based on an all-around team effort. Ohio only scored four runs in the win, though, which was uncharacteristically low and something the team will have to get up in the final MAC stretch, as it will be hosting first-ranked Akron at home.
The pitching for Ohio was on point against Marshall, though, as Skipp Miller continued her encore tour. Miller will also be a key player in this Kent series as she will try to prevent the Golden Flashes from staying in the game. Pitching woes often lead to batting woes, and for as strong a batting team as the Bobcats are, they need to keep that up.
Closing these games out early will be a huge key to success for Ohio, as it has been a trend this season that Ohio tends to struggle when the other teams are able to put runs on the board first. Being able to have a huge first few innings allows more relief for the pitchers and batters and stops the Bobcats from playing behind, which is one of their weaknesses.
Kent State (17-22, 7-11) has had a rough stretch of two series, with it getting swept by both Northern Illinois and Akron. Putting the Golden Flashes at a six-game losing streak, they are looking for a quick turnaround to try and ignite a spark towards the end of the season, and Ohio very well could be that igniter.
Game Information:
Opponent: Kent State
Time: Friday at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m.
Location: Devine Diamond, in Kent, Ohio
Get to know the opponent:
Head Coach: Jessica O’Donnell (3rd season)
Statistical leaders:
Batting average: Ashlyn Porter (.360)
Hits: Aaralyn Nogay (43)
Home runs: Caleigh Shaulis (10)
RBIs: Shaulis (36)
Innings pitched: Riley Miller (112.1)
Strikeouts: Gabby Quinn (20)
ERA: Miller (5.11)
Kent State notes:
With this series being a home one for Kent State, the Golden Flashes have a very remarkable record of 8-3 at home. Those three losses on its home record were all to its series against Akron, which it got swept in. To counteract that, though, they do have an away record of 1-13, being one of the worst away teams in the MAC. The home record could sway things, as the team looks very comfortable at home in Devine Diamond.
Kent State ranks as the second worst and worst team in the MAC in regard to pitching and fielding, respectively. The team has a whopping 58 errors, and opposing batters hit .327 against the Golden Flashes. Kent State lost the Northern Illinois series by a score of 36-15 and the Akron series by a combined score of 37-13. With a team as weak against opposing hitters as Kent State, Ohio could be in for a good weekend.
