Heading into the weekend series with Eastern Michigan, Joe Carbone made clear he didn't care about the possibility of his 600th win. He just wanted to take two out of three games from the Eagles.
As it turns out, Carbone got both.
The Bobcats improved their Mid-American Conference record to 9-3 with two wins over the weekend in Ypsilanti, Mich., after dropping the
series opener.
I really honestly don't care about it
Carbone said of picking up his 600th win on Saturday. Coaches don't win ballgames. Players do.
Yesterday's game saw the Bobcats in top form, taking the series with an 8-3 win.
Kevin Mementowski pitched 5 2/3 invaluable innings in relief, allowing just two runs on five hits. Bryce Butt then came out and finished the game out with 2 2/3 scoreless innings for his second win in two days.
The bullpen has struggled this season, but the unit allowed just three runs during the weekend series. Butt picked up his first two wins of the season after losing his first five decisions.
They threw strikes for us and kept us in the game Carbone said.
Friday's loss didn't set a good tone for the weekend, but Ohio recovered. Chris Rigo started at the mound and gave up seven runs in seven innings of work. The offense mustered just four hits and the Bobcats fell, 7-1.
Ohio (16-14, 9-3 MAC) bounced back on Saturday, though. With the game knotted at four in the eighth inning, Chris Klimko hit a two-run double to put the Bobcats up for good. Butt finished the game with two scoreless innings.
Coming back from an opening loss on the road was a mental breakthrough for his team, Carbone said.
It's a lot tougher mentally he said about losing the first game. It puts a little more pressure on us. I told the guys it's the first time we lost the first game
so we'll see what we're made of.
We had to come back strong.
Oestrike Stadium is laid with a soft FieldTurf
which Carbone said created problems for the Bobcats. Eastern Michigan (8-25
3-9 MAC) dropped bunts for base hits
throwing off Ohio's rhythm
but Carbone said his team adjusted well.
It was totally against in all aspects of our game, Carbone said. (Eastern Michigan) has outstanding bunters.
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27826,2009-04-13 00:00:00,Baseball: Bobcats grab coach's 600th win,The Bobcats won the weekend series against the Eagles
earning coach Joe Carbone his 600th career win.,Heading into the weekend series with Eastern Michigan
Joe Carbone made clear he didn't care about the possibility of his 600th win. He just wanted to take two out of three games from the Eagles.
As it turns out
Carbone got both.
The Bobcats improved their Mid-American Conference record to 9-3 with two wins over the weekend in Ypsilanti
