Following a three-game sweep at the hands of the Furman Paladins, Ohio can blame its woes on a struggling starting pitching staff.
It could also shift the blame on a lack of timely hitting.
The biggest issue with the team's weekend was the poor display of defense the Bobcats showed against Furman, coach Joe Carbone said.
Ohio committed six errors Friday, four errors Saturday and three Sunday - a number partly to blame for the sweep.
The errors are both mental and technical
Carbone said. It's all a big process. It's frustrating to watch.
The combination of a porous defense and weak starting pitching negated the 24-run, offensive explosion for Ohio, and caused the Bobcats to drop to 1-8 on the season.
The start is the worst for the squad in the past five years.
We're hitting the ball hard but we could be doing better Carbone said. Our two-strike hitting could be better though. It could always get better.
Friday afternoon, starter Bryce Butt lasted 5.2 innings, surrendering eight runs (five earned) on 12 hits. Butt, a senior, struck out only one batter, but managed to not surrender any walks.
Butt started the day strong for Ohio, as he allowed four runs in his first four innings or work. The Paladin offense took advantage of several Butt mistakes, scoring four runs and tying the contest.
Butt was getting tired towards the end
Carbone said. He was reaching his pitch count and lost his force.
Saturday's starting pitching performance wasn't much better for the Bobcats, as sophomore Brent Choban lasted only until the second inning and surrendered four runs.
Choban was pulled before earning any outs in the second, and a run later surrendered by Michael Dillon was also charged to him. Dillon took the loss for the Bobcats.
Ryan Bores took the mound for Ohio Sunday. Bores, a freshman, gave up seven runs on six hits in 4.1 innings of work.
Once again, it was timely hitting by the opposition that caused the Bobcat downfall.
Both Saturday and Sunday, Ohio and Furman were tied hitting into the last half of the game. But it was the Paladin offense both days that came through in the clutch by breaking the deadlock and sealing the win.
It's still an adjustment (being outside)
Carbone said. We'll get there eventually
but for now we're struggling a bit putting everything together.
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Noah Meyers
