BB: OAC: Ohio Athletic Conference

[BobcatQB]

Two more one run losses for Muskingum has pretty much secured their spot outside the Top 4.

Up one in the 8th in game 1 and up one in the 9th in game 2..both times the defensive is the difference again.  Throwing error by catcher in game 1 and throwing error by SS in game 2.
 

[BobcatQB]

Looking at the box scores makes me even sicker.  3 errors by the catcher in game 1 and 4 errors by the team in game 2.  Hard to overcome 7 errors in a day.

[BobcatQB]

Muskies split 7 inning games with W&J, currently #14 in NPI Rankings.  Controlled game 1 from the jump.  Game 2, up 5-2 after 5 then gave up a 5 spot in the 6th!  Another one run loss.  That makes 6 and a 2 run loss in extra innings against ONU.  Only 1 official error on the day but should have had another one.  Miserable day for baseball..wind gusts up to 40 mph, rain, sleet..not fun.

[Dr. Acula]

Finally back after work got in the way as it always does this time of year.  I did have the Mount DH with Cap on while I was working so I caught bits and pieces of it. 

Obviously I was supremely disappointed dropping the opener.  Cap is not good.  They have a couple good sticks, but their pitching is not even average.  It was just one of those games.  Maybe they took Cap a little lightly.  Breeden wasn't quite as sharp as normal, Cap took advantage of errors and scored some runs when given extra outs and Mount just hit the ball at guys.  It happens.  Now should you have more than 3 hits off Woodyard?  Uhh yes.  That's not good.  They bounced back and buried them quickly in game 2 then went on the road and beat a suddenly decent Wooster team on Sunday.

In the loss Mayer was awesome in relief.  4 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 9 K.  He was absolutely dominant including at one point striking out 7 of 8 hitters.

Tsouras hit a pair of 2-run homers in game two against Cap then followed it up with two more bombs at Wooster including the two out grand slam to put Mount up 8-6.

Mount hosts W&J today.  Hopefully that will be a good one.  With an OAC DH tomorrow I can't imagine Mount is going to burn any arms today.  I'm sure W&J has PAC games so will probably be in the same boat.

[Dr. Acula]

That went pretty much as I expected.  Mount beats W&J 10-8.  Nice win to move to 20-7. Tsouras homers again.  His 5th in the last 3 games.  If not for the Raiders kind of gifting the Pres a 4 run inning with walks it could have been worse.  But you have to throw strikes.  Can't walk the first 3 batters of the inning and also walk in a run later in the inning.

[Dr. Acula]

Big DH in Ada this weekend.  Cap storming back to shockingly split w ONU is not what I had on my bingo card.  Mount needs to do the conference a solid and not fall apart this weekend bc the conference tourney being hosted on a mediocre HS field in Ada isn't good for anyone. 

[BobcatQB]

Big DH in Ada this weekend.  Cap storming back to shockingly split w ONU is not what I had on my bingo card.  Mount needs to do the conference a solid and not fall apart this weekend bc the conference tourney being hosted on a mediocre HS field in Ada isn't good for anyone.

Very true.  They are getting a new turf complex..I assume it will be ready for next year.

Tried to tell you that Cap isn't the same Cap.  Those dudes can hit.

[BobcatQB]

Updated NPI Rankings as of 4/20:

https://stats.ncaa.org/selection_rankings/nitty_gritties/44156?utf8=%E2%9C%93&commit=Submit

[Dr. Acula]

I checked out some of the Mount DH against Wilm on Friday.  There is no way to sugar coat it, but Wilm is not very good.  The pitching is just not there.  They have a couple solid bats, but that's about it.  I have a hard time seeing how JCU doesn't sweep on Saturday.  That would move the Streaks to 11-5 and all but secure their spot.

Muskingum is hosting Otterbein in an absolute must sweep situation.  BW has Cap which I will now officially chalk up as a possible split although I still think BW finds a way to sweep.  JCU and BW play each other to end the season as they should.  Musky finishes up with Mount who could be playing for the regular season title.  If BW sweeps Cap and moves to 11-5 also that puts Musky in a rough spot since BW swept them.  It's definitely not over, but BW and JCU are certainly in good position as it stands today.

Unrelated but one thing that I noticed in person that doesn't come through as well on video is how hard Tsouras hits the ball.  He smoked a couple balls that in person I was left shaking my head.

[BobcatQB]

Basically Muskingum needs to win the last 4 to give themselves a chance. BW needs to win all 4 to help since they own tiebreaker against Muskingum.  JCU needs to go 2-2, losing to BW twice..be great for them to go 1-3 but they aren't losing to Wilmington.  I assume tiebreaker after head-to-head is overall record.  Don't remember but I think that's it.

[Dr. Acula]

I think the tiebreaker after H2H is that they start at the top of the standings and move down until there is a difference.  JCU was swept by Mount and split with ONU.