LEXINGTON, Ky. — Despite some bumps along the way during a 31-26 season, Ohio coach Rob Smith knew he had a club capable of getting back to the postseason after missing a regional last season.
The Bobcats defeated Eastern Michigan 7-4 last weekend to capture the Mid-American Conference championship and advance to their first NCAA regional since 2015.
“I knew this team was capable of doing what we’ve done,” Smith said. “Quite frankly, it didn’t come to me as a surprise. This was less of a surprise than 2015 was. I knew what we had in the pieces in place. If you look at our season, I knew we’d be able to pitch and I knew we’d be able to defend. Because of that, you’re going to have a chance to win games.”
Smith said it took some time for the Bobcats to hit on all cylinders. Early in the season his pitching staff was clicking while the bats lagged behind. That trend flipped during the middle of the season.
“About a third of the way through the conference season we really started swinging the bat but we had a really tough stretch on the mound,” Smiths aid. “We had a two week stretch or so where we weren’t getting guys out nearly as much. But I knew if we just put it together we’d have the potential on both sides of the ball to be pretty darn good. The last month of the season we finally did that.”
Ohio finished the regular season with a 13-11 record in the MAC, but the team was one of the hottest in the conference down the stretch. The Bobcats are winners of nine of their last 10 games as they travel to Lexington on Friday to take on regional host Kentucky. UK coach Nick Mingione complemented Smith on Monday afternoon after seeing the brackets.
“Rob Smith at Ohio, I have as much respect for him as any coach,” Mingione said. (Ohio) looks like a really good team. Couple of guys who can hit the ball out of the yard. They field .980 as a team. They can really pitch. They got a guy in the back end with 15 saves. We're going to really have our hands full that first day."
Smith said he’s gotten to know Mingione some over the past year and has been impressed with Mingione’s ability to execute the vision he had for his club.
“His track record prior to UK was outstanding,” Smith said. “But then you look at what he’s done there at Kentucky, and even more impressively, he had a vision in place and he’s executing it. You have to respect that and what he’s done in the Southeastern Conference is really amazing. He’s done a tremendous job in a lot of ways. He’s probably going to get consideration for National Coach of the Year, as he should. The job he’s done at Kentucky this year has been outstanding.”
Smith said he still hasn't made a final determination on who will start on the mound for his club against UK, but he said he's leaning toward redshirt junior Michael Klein. Klein is 5-2 with a 3.27 ERA on the mound this season and also hits in the cleanup spot offensively. Normally lefthander Gerry Salisbury has started on Friday's for the Bobcats, but he would be on short rest since he pitched in the MAC championship on Sunday.
But for Smith and his club, earning their way back into the NCAA Tournament was the ultimate goal.
“We’re very excited to be back in the NCAA regionals” Smith said. “To have the opportunity now to do it for the second time in three years is very special. Last time we were in Champaign, Illinois, which was a great experience. I know coming over to Lexington and playing in Kentucky is going to be an equally impressive experience. We’re very much looking forward to it.”
