Sports

Another rough week displays the hardships during a dismal season for Ohio

By: Marc Goldstein
Posted on: Monday, April 21, 2025

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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Ohio (9-29, 4-14 MAC) has notably struggled this season. The fact that the team is underwhelming in most aspects is not something that bears repeating. The pitching staff is struggling to the tune of an 8.48 ERA as a unit. The offense is unable to get timely hits with runners in scoring position late in games. However, this past week feels like a bottoming out moment. Four games played resulted in four losses. Only one of those games was even remotely close with two mercy-rule defeats against an in-state rival sandwiched in the middle. 

Lopsided losses, poor execution

When a team plays four games in a week and gets mercy ruled in half of them, there is a major issue. Ohio traveled north to play Kent State during its weekend series and proceeded to lay eggs in each of the first two games. The scores of 14-3 and 13-2 further that sentiment. On Thursday, Hunter Winston got the nod and got shelled, giving up six runs in 2.2 innings. The first reliever, Dylan Eggl, did not have a much better fate, giving up four in a third of an inning. By the time the third inning ended, it was 10-0, Kent State, and the game was pretty much over. 

On Friday night, Blake Gaskey and the Bobcats were only down 4-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth. Gaskey gave up the game, ending his day by throwing just four innings, giving up nine. Luke Bryant would give up five runs in the next frame and the mercy rule was triggered. In fact, the only reason the Bobcats did not get mercy ruled in its game on Saturday was due to a double going over the fence, making the ball dead and not allowing for the batter to continue his mad dash around the bases. 

For a team having a season as bad as Ohio’s there was only one occasion previously this season where the mercy rule was triggered, the first game of the year against Wofford. Regardless, the new lows established (on back-to-back nights no less) is yet another unfortunate stat in a season that has had quite a few. 

Avoiding history

At this point in the season, the postseason is realistically out of the question for Ohio. Instead, the goal should be about avoiding one of the most dubious records. In 2014, Ohio was having a similarly miserable year, going 11-40 and 7-20 in the MAC. This season, Ohio is on pace to narrowly avoid the 41-loss mark. Given its current winning percentage, Ohio is slated to win 3.31 more games (rounded down to three for ease of convenience), putting its potential record at 12-40. 

That being said, the math does not account for the opponents the Bobcats will face to conclude the year. Three-game sets against two of the top three teams in the MAC, Ball State and Miami, are not likely to yield more than one win apiece, if any. Additionally, midweek games against Northern Kentucky and Ohio State are toss ups. Finally, the series against Akron and Western Michigan, two matchups that are close, at least on paper. 

Upcoming week 

Ohio will play its final home midweek game of the season when it welcomes Northern Kentucky to Athens. The teams faced off earlier in the season with Ohio blowing a late lead to drop the road game. Northern Kentucky is one of the top teams in the Horizon League and has hit its stride of late, winning six of its last seven games ahead of the clash against the Bobcats. 

The weekend series is the marquee one on the docket for Ohio. Despite having a difficult season, it can all be softened with some victories over Miami in the Battle of the Bricks. Miami is a quality baseball team that looks poised to make a deep run in the MAC Tournament. That being said, records can be thrown out the window when rivals face off and Ohio will attempt to play the part of spoiler during the three-game set.