It didn't take very long for the Bobcats to shift their focus after Wednesday's two losses against Marshall toward this weekend's games with Mid-American Conference rival Akron.
You got to let it go because MAC games are what count now
said outfielder Kelly Rodriguez, who is riding a nine-game hitting streak. We're coming down to the end and winning these are all that matters.
Coach Jill Matyuch put it simply when describing Ohio's games tomorrow and Sunday against the Zips.
They're huge she said.
Huge indeed, as the Bobcats (18-22, 7-5 MAC) sit in the thick of a tightly contested race to make the eight-team conference tournament. As it stands now, the Bobcats, despite being in third place in the MAC East, would be the fourth-seeded team in the tournament if it were to start today.
Because the records of teams in the hunt are so similar, a poor showing at Akron this weekend would assuredly lower the Bobcats' seed, if not drop the team out of the top eight all together.
We're definitely looking to win two catcher Marian Davis said. Our No. 1 goal is to win two.
Ohio's two rough losses Wednesday against Marshall have no bearing on the team's standing within the conference, but Rodriguez thinks the setbacks could have a positive effect on these more important games.
I'm pretty sure these two losses fired everyone up for the weekend
she said. (The Zips) definitely have taken people by surprise so we're looking to take two from them.
Because of the storm that wiped out most conference games two weeks ago, the Zips (13-16, 5-5 MAC) have played four less MAC games than third-place Ohio, as they sit a game behind fourth place in the MAC East. Like Ohio, Akron went 2-2 last weekend in conference play, dropping two games at Kent State last Friday before sweeping a doubleheader at Buffalo Saturday.
Lindsey Bodekker leads the Zips in nearly every pitching category, as she has seen the most time on the hill out of Akron's three pitchers. At the plate, outfielder Cali Stratton leads the team with a .368 batting average and six doubles.
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Ohio outfielder Debbie Szalejko connects with a pitch during the Bobcats doubleheader against Marshall yesterday. The Bobcats will see action again tomorrow when they travel to Akron.
