May 1, 2008

Ohio vs. Bowling Green Game Notes (May 2-4)

ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio baseball team will look to get back on the winning track this weekend as it plays host to Bowling Green in a three-game Mid-American Conference series at Bob Wren Stadium. Ohio (20-24) enters the weekend in second place in the MAC East Division with a 9-9 conference record, while Bowling Green (20-18) is just behind the Bobcats with a 7-8 conference mark. First pitch for the series is slated for Friday at 6 p.m.

Ohio Baseball This Weekend (Bob Wren Stadium)
Ohio vs. Bowling Green - Friday, May 2 (6 p.m.)
Ohio vs. Bowling Green - Saturday, May 3 (3 p.m.)
Ohio vs. Bowling Green - Sunday, May 4 (1 p.m.)

Fans can listen to pitch-by-pitch action of Friday and Sunday's game on WXTQ Power 105 radio in Athens, and can listen to a broadcast of Saturday's game on WATH 970. Caleb Troop and Brian Boesch will have the call. Live stats for all three games will be available at OhioBobcats.com.

Pitching Probables
(Ohio's listed first)
Friday
#33 Chris Rigo (Jr., RHP, 6-3, 205)
4-2, 4.77 ERA, 66.0 IP, 35 ER, 57 K, 29 BB

#35 Frank Berry (So., RHP, 6-2, 215)
4-1, 4.78 ERA, 43.1 IP, 23 ER, 20 K, 16 BB

Satuday
#1 Zach Elmer (Jr., LHP, 5-11, 185)
3-2, 3.08 ERA, 49.2 IP, 17 ER, 32 K, 28 BB

#16 Kevin Light (Jr., LHP, 6-0, 190)
2-3, 6.23 ERA, 39.0 IP, 27 ER, 26 K, 15 BB

Sunday
#14 Matt Smith (Sr., LHP, 6-3, 190)
4-1, 4.86 ERA, 50.0 IP, 27 ER, 26 K, 22 BB

#4 Kevin Leady (Jr., RHP, 6-3, 180)
2-4, 4.70 ERA, 38.1 IP, 20 ER, 28 K, 14 BB

Scouting Bowling Green
Bowling Green enters this weekend's series with a 20-18 mark and a 7-8 MAC record. In conference action the Falcons are fifth in the league in batting (.289) and 11th in pitching (6.88 ERA). Sophomore infielder Derek Spencer leads BGSU at the plate, batting a league-best .446 in conference play and .397 overall. Included all games, Bowling Green junior Ryan Shay is tops in the league in batting with a .400 average. The Falcons are coached by Danny Schmitz, who is in his 18th season at the helm of the program.

All-Time Series
The Bobcats are 79-53-1 all-time against Bowling Green. Last season the Bobcats traveled to Bowling Green for the last series of the season, where the Falcons took two of three. BGSU won the first two games, 14-4 and 8-6, before the Bobcats won the last game of the season, 15-0. Two years ago when Bowling Green came to Athens the Bobcats swept the Falcons. Head Coach Joe Carbone is 31-24 all-time against Bowling Green in his 20 years with the Bobcats.

Taking the Lead...Falling Behind
Ohio has gotten out to an early lead in a good percentage of its games and has outscored its opponents 122 to 65 in the first three innings this season. In the final three innings the Bobcats have been outscored 94 to 133, however, including being outscored 56-25 in the seventh inning. Despite Ohio's four games under .500 entering this weekend, the Bobcats have still outscored their opponents 327 to 298 on the season.

Recent Slide
Ohio has lost eight of its last 10 games, including five of its last six MAC games. During that span, Ohio's once explosive offense has been slowed to a .290 batting average compared to its opponents .347 average. On the mound the Bobcats' pitching has also suffered recently, as the Bobcats have posted a 6.78 ERA over the last 10 games.

Rehak On a Tear
Over the last five games sophomore Jeremie Rehak has been producing in the designated hitter spot for Ohio, batting .625 with a .813 slugging percentage. During that time Rehak has four RBI, seven runs scored, one double, one triple, three walks and three stolen bases. The Bobcats as a team during the last five games are batting .253.

Rigo Wins MAC East Pitcher of Week
Junior right-hander Chris Rigo won MAC East Division Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 28. Rigo threw his second complete game of the season to lead the Bobcats to a 7-2 victory against Kent State. Rigo worked all nine innings, allowing just two earned runs on nine hits while striking out eight Kent State batters, to earn his fourth win of the season. Rigo finished the week with a 2.00 ERA. It is the third time this season Rigo has claimed the weekly honor, tying him with Central Michigan's Steve Teno for most pitcher of the week selections in the conference this season. It is the fifth time an Ohio pitcher has won the weekly award this season, which is tops in the conference.

Stiffler Entering Elite Company
Senior Matt Stiffler is already the all-time Ohio leader in career triples (15), but he is also in the top 10 in numerous other statistical categories. Entering this weekend Stiffler is tied for third in career runs (155), tied for 10th in career doubles (39) and is eighth in total bases for a career (319). He is also fast approaching the top 10 in hits (205), just four away from breaking into that top 10.

Klimko Gets Defensive
Ohio junior catcher Chris Klimko has become a solid defensive presence behind the plate for the Bobcats. This season Klimko has started 33 games at catcher and has allowed just 21 stolen bases and caught 13 runners stealing base for a .618 stolen base against percentage. At the plate Klimko has been solid as well; batting .346 with 20 RBI and 21 runs scored. The junior has also been clutch for the Bobcats this season, connecting on two walk-off hits.

In the MAC
Through 18 MAC games, Ohio is second in the league in batting (.312) and fifth in team ERA (4.84). At the plate Ohio is being led by freshman Robert Maddox III and sophomore Marc Krauss. Maddox III is fifth in batting with a .405 average and Krauss is 11th with a .377 average. On the mound junior reliever Kevin Mementowski is currently leading the MAC with a 2.66 ERA. The right handed Mementowski has worked 20.1 innings in conference play allowing just six earned runs. Junior starter Zach Elmer is fourth in the conference with a 3.31 ERA. The left handed Elmer is also fifth in the conference in opponent batting average (.221).

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Wes Liles is the baseball contact in the Ohio media relations office. He can be reached via email at liles@ohio.edu.