BB: OAC: Ohio Athletic Conference

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Marietta split their first day in Florida, losing 2-0 in a non-region game against Montclair State before winning 15-10 over Wooster in a regional game.

FR transfer Jason Byers gave up 2 hits in 8 innings in the opener but unfortunately one of them went over the fence while Dylan Papa gave up 7 hits but 0 runs and really not many threats, thanks to 3 inning-ending double plays.

In the second game, the bats woke up, obviously. The pitching left much to be desired for both teams. Mike Mulvey was decent as the Marietta starter, but still gave up 8 hits and 5 runs in 6 1/3. He did get the win though.

Marietta is 3-1, 3-0 in the region. Wooster was playing its first game of the season.

[Dr. Acula]

Mount swept their opening DH against Greensboro behind a couple strong starts. Took the opener 2-1 behind a CG (7 IP, 9 k) from Carlino.  Murzynski went 6 and fanned 8 in the 6-1 win in game 2. 

Franklin & Marshall tomorrow AM.

[Dr. Acula]

Mount drops the opener to Franklin & Marshall 2-1.  Back to back walks to start the 4th lead to a pair of unearned runs off of Pryor and that was all she wrote.  The Raider bats got left behind at the hotel as they only even threatened to score twice in the game.  The F&M pitcher shut them down striking out 9 and not allowing a run until the 6th I believe.  Need to bounce back and salvage a split.

[EttaFan1]

The Pioneers mashed Dennison today 14-2.  Steve Bascom got the win.  The Pioneer bats did their damage in this game shortened by the 10-run rule. Bascom allowed an unearned run and was the winning pitcher.   

The buidling of the Big Red Program isn't going to an overnight story for Mike Deegan.  4 Errors plagued the Big Red Defesne and the pitching is not even close.

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Yeah he's gotta find out what he has. He had a couple of guys that threw well yesterday.

Good to see Marietta get the bats and the arms going at once. Sounded like Carithers has a live arm.

[Dr. Acula]

Mount drops the opener to Franklin & Marshall 2-1.  Back to back walks to start the 4th lead to a pair of unearned runs off of Pryor and that was all she wrote.  The Raider bats got left behind at the hotel as they only even threatened to score twice in the game.  The F&M pitcher shut them down striking out 9 and not allowing a run until the 6th I believe.  Need to bounce back and salvage a split.

Got the split.  7-3 with the big blow being an E8 that cleared the bases with 2 down in the 2nd.       

[EttaFan1]

Good to see Marietta get the bats and the arms going at once. Sounded like Carithers has a live arm.

Now is when things get interesting for Marietta....We've used Mulvey, Bascom, and Byers.  I am going to predict that Mulvey and Byers are one and two in the rotation, and Bascom three.  Who is going to be 4?  Next two days are going to be interesting to see who they throw. 

• Byers was a pleasant surprise even though he got the L.
• Mulvey is what he is, a guy who goes in there and throws strikes. He won't dominate anyone, as his two outing show.
• Bascom had a pretty good day today, an Ok first outing.  It will be interesting to see how he develops over the course of the spring.  (He may be the starter against Wheaton Mass on Saturday!)
• We have had a few defensive issues up the middle.  In the game agains Wooster, yesterday, Hannahan made errors on three straight plays (all with two outs) to keep things going for the Scots, and then his error leads to an unearned run again today. 
• All in all, we are still very good defensively.  Despite the youth up the middle, both guys are making plays.
• The bats came to life against WOoster, and continued against Dennsion. I'm guessing we saw Wooster's #1 or #2 and roughed him up pretty good. 

I'm interested to see how we do against OWU on Wednesday, a key in region game for both teams.

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Good to see Marietta get the bats and the arms going at once. Sounded like Carithers has a live arm.

Now is when things get interesting for Marietta....We've used Mulvey, Bascom, and Byers.  I am going to predict that Mulvey and Byers are one and two in the rotation, and Bascom three.  Who is going to be 4?  Next two days are going to be interesting to see who they throw. 

I had a pretty good feeling about Byers. I think Brewer will try to get a look at most everyone that has any chance at all. There may be several guys out there tomorrow for this non-region game.

• Mulvey is what he is, a guy who goes in there and throws strikes. He won't dominate anyone, as his two outing show.

He's struck out 10 in 13 innings. It's not Blaski-type dominance but it's not bad. He needs to keep the ball down.

• Bascom had a pretty good day today, an Ok first outing.  It will be interesting to see how he develops over the course of the spring.  (He may be the starter against Wheaton Mass on Saturday!)

I think Mulvey or Byers will go against Wheaton, the other against Webster.

• We have had a few defensive issues up the middle.  In the game agains Wooster, yesterday, Hannahan made errors on three straight plays (all with two outs) to keep things going for the Scots, and then his error leads to an unearned run again today. 

.200 hitting and .850 fielding won't keep him in Brewer's good graces for long. It's early though.

I'm interested to see how we do against OWU on Wednesday, a key in region game for both teams.

Wesleyan has 7 games in 5 days and 5 of them are region games. Hard to tell what they might do pitching-wise.  They have 2 pretty solid returners and another guy that wasn't bad but walked a few too many guys. 

[Dr. Acula]

Good to see Marietta get the bats and the arms going at once. Sounded like Carithers has a live arm.

Now is when things get interesting for Marietta....We've used Mulvey, Bascom, and Byers.  I am going to predict that Mulvey and Byers are one and two in the rotation, and Bascom three.  Who is going to be 4?  Next two days are going to be interesting to see who they throw. 

I had a pretty good feeling about Byers. I think Brewer will try to get a look at most everyone that has any chance at all. There may be several guys out there tomorrow for this non-region game.

• Mulvey is what he is, a guy who goes in there and throws strikes. He won't dominate anyone, as his two outing show.

He's struck out 10 in 13 innings. It's not Blaski-type dominance but it's not bad. He needs to keep the ball down.

• Bascom had a pretty good day today, an Ok first outing.  It will be interesting to see how he develops over the course of the spring.  (He may be the starter against Wheaton Mass on Saturday!)

I think Mulvey or Byers will go against Wheaton, the other against Webster.

• We have had a few defensive issues up the middle.  In the game agains Wooster, yesterday, Hannahan made errors on three straight plays (all with two outs) to keep things going for the Scots, and then his error leads to an unearned run again today. 

.200 hitting and .850 fielding won't keep him in Brewer's good graces for long. It's early though.

I'm interested to see how we do against OWU on Wednesday, a key in region game for both teams.

Wesleyan has 7 games in 5 days and 5 of them are region games. Hard to tell what they might do pitching-wise.  They have 2 pretty solid returners and another guy that wasn't bad but walked a few too many guys.

Cooper started and beat BW yesterday. If Sega starts today it could be iffy on Wednesday for OWU.

[EttaFan1]

'Berg defeated Dennison earlier today in spite of a rain delay.  Don't know the details, but the MC radio guys were mentioning it.

Marietta survives, winning 7-6 in 10 innings.  After freshman mike Finlan pitches a gem through 8 innings allowing 1 run, the bullpen gives up 4 in the top of nine and then a solo hr in the top of 10. Marietta scores on a wild pitch and an hit/error (official scoring unknown at this time) in the bottom of the 10th.

So far starting pitching has been good. The bullpen is a major concern right now in this young season. There waas plenty of talk about the starters last year, but right now the guys missed the most are Logan Lewis, Kyle Linquist, and Luke Langdon who shut down everything.  W have to get the bullpen figured out to have the success we expect in Marietta.

[Dr. Acula]

Berg got great pitching again today and not from any of their "known" guys.  1 run on 2 hits in 9 IP is pretty good.  Holt was good again yesterday too.  If any of those young guys emerge to compliment that 1-2-3 of Thomas, Holt, Minteer they're going to be very tough.

I was a little surprised to see them only grab 4 votes in this week's poll.  Still really early though.  If they keep winning they'll be ranked shortly I'm sure.  Mount and BW were still ahead of them this week in the ORV, but BW has dropped 2 straight now.

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'Berg defeated Dennison earlier today in spite of a rain delay.  Don't know the details, but the MC radio guys were mentioning it.

Marietta survives, winning 7-6 in 10 innings.  After freshman mike Finlan pitches a gem through 8 innings allowing 1 run, the bullpen gives up 4 in the top of nine and then a solo hr in the top of 10. Marietta scores on a wild pitch and an hit/error (official scoring unknown at this time) in the bottom of the 10th.

So far starting pitching has been good. The bullpen is a major concern right now in this young season. There waas plenty of talk about the starters last year, but right now the guys missed the most are Logan Lewis, Kyle Linquist, and Luke Langdon who shut down everything.  W have to get the bullpen figured out to have the success we expect in Marietta.

Still some guys that haven't been seen. I think this team is pretty good on defense and in the batter's box. Overall I'm encouraged. I imagine 8 innings was more than they hoped for out of Finlan.

[motorman]

Berg got great pitching again today and not from any of their "known" guys.  1 run on 2 hits in 9 IP is pretty good.  Holt was good again yesterday too.  If any of those young guys emerge to compliment that 1-2-3 of Thomas, Holt, Minteer they're going to be very tough.

I was a little surprised to see them only grab 4 votes in this week's poll.  Still really early though.  If they keep winning they'll be ranked shortly I'm sure.  Mount and BW were still ahead of them this week in the ORV, but BW has dropped 2 straight now.

Sorry I have been missing for a while, lost my internet connection in Florida. Unfortunately for me, I am back in Ohio now.

You are right Dr., there have been a lot of the freshmen, plus SO Adam Manner who was hurt all of last year that have been impressive. Pitching appears very solid for Berg. Will also help if Fruhwirth puts it together after a couple of tough starts in Florida. They problem that has to be solved is the D. They made 6 errors against Denison and still won the game because of the solid pitching. In his last start vs. Salem State, Minteer wasn't great but was good enough to win if the defense hadn't let him down. That can't continue to happen against good teams.

I have given up on trying to make any sense out of the poll numbers. 2-4 Adrian was only 3 points from still being in the top 25 and 6-2 Berg only gets 4 points? I know most of Adrian's losses have been to quality teams but they also lost to Muskingum who is 1-8. BW should rightly fall below them next week, their losses have come since the last poll came out. They also get fewer points than sub .500 Webster. Hopefully the weather cooperates this weekend and they get a chance to prove something against #21 ranked Manchester.

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The poll is too sticky. Voters tend to be too slow in making adjustments especially at this time of year. It's something I've complained about before.

Webster has played some good competition and I imagine they're probably a pretty good team, but you have to earn it on the field to at least some extent.

My #1 this week would have been a team that didn't get any first-place votes, and I would have had Manchester in the top 10. I hope they can get that series in this weekend.

[Dr. Acula]

Mount beat Transylvania 3-2 this morning. Clarke gave them 7 solid innings (2 ER, 7 K) but got the ND since they trailed 2-1 up until the bottom of the 8th.  The offense was sluggish again today.  Mathis has been slow out of the gate so hopefully once he gets on track it'll pick up. He's such a huge part of the offense.  It's early and they're 4-1 so I can't complain.