The Bobcats have opened MAC play 3-3, losing 2 of 3 to Bowling Green and winning 2 of 3 against Northern Illinois. The one loss this weekend in the home-opening series was in 10 innings. Both BG losses were by 2 runs. All three wins were by comfortable margins, so with better performance in close games, Ohio would have four or five wins. That part is a little disappointing but overall I'd say the results are encouraging. Right now, 4-2 leads the MAC. Ohio's .279 average is second in the league and 25 home runs are first, which has led the Bobcats to leading the league in scoring. Ohio's ERA is first. Fielding percentage is last at this point.

And more of the same. Two of three close games didn't go Ohio's way against Eastern Michigan. Eagles won 6-4 in 10 innings (Bobcats couldn't hold one-run lead in ninth). The Bobcats won 5-4 and then lost 4-3. Scored 3 in the 8th and had bases loaded and 1 out in 9th and didn't score. Marshall in a nonleague game this week and then a series at first-place Kent State.

Series loss vs WMU. If the tourney is indeed going to only 6, we are almost certainly cooked. We would have to jump both WMU & Toledo, both who hold the tiebreaker over us. Which means we need to sweep CMU (unlikely), have Ball State sweep WMU (somewhat possible), and have last place BG sweep Toledo (very unlikely).

Disappointing to follow up a MAC title with no trip to the tourney. Cats lost a lot of close games but just didn't have the depth to compete this season.

Ohio plays CMU this weekend. This is from the game notes:

The Bobcats enter week nine of MAC play in eighth place in the league standings and in need of a series sweep to keep their hopes of qualifying for the league tournament alive. The top six teams in the standings at the conclusion of the regular season will qualify for the 2018 MAC Championship will be held May 23-27 at All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon, Ohio. The Bobcats also require help in order to qualify for the conference tournament, needing both Western Michigan (at third-place Ball State) and Toledo (vs. 10th-place Bowling Green) to be swept in order to keep their postseason dreams alive.