Sports
Swept by Akron, OU Softball Limps into Postseason
By: Kellen Becoats
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Tight has been the keyword for the Bobcats this season.
Tight wins, not so tight losses, a tight, injury-hit lineup and a tight postseason race.
Coming into the weekend, it was looking like the Bobcats needed both wins over Akron — who were one place behind them in the MAC East — to grab the last spot in the MAC Tournament.
They failed to achieve this goal after the Zips took game one, 3-2, and game two, 8-1. But the Bobcats were still able to grab the No. 8 seed after Bowling Green — the team that could have also passed Ohio in the standings if the Falcons had won all their games in the final week — lost a game apiece to Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan.
While this is great news for Ohio, coach Jodi Hermanek will need to turn her injury-hit program around if it is to stand a chance in the postseason tournament.
A year ago, the Bobcats were the No. 5 seed with an incredible pitcher who would go on to lead her team through the tournament and win tournament MVP.
While Savannah Jo Dorsey still hasn’t recovered from an early-season injury, Ohio should take the lessons that it learned last year and use that knowledge to push the Kent State Golden Flashes, it’s first-round opponent, to their breaking point.
The Golden Flashes won both regular-season games, scoring nine runs both times to beat Ohio, 9-1 in five innings and 9-6 in the series finale.
The key to avoid that in the first round of the MAC Tournament is to put Kent’s pitchers under pressure.
The Golden Flashes rotation all hold an admirable ERA, with Emma Johnson, Kent’s typical starter, holding a 2.09 ERA and a 14-11 record.
If Ohio can combat that and put some runs on the board early and often, then the Bobcats may be able to pull off a similar run to the one it made last year.