Hall of Fame
The 1970 Bobcats baseball team left an undeniable mark on the Ohio record book. The squad earned Ohio's 12th MAC Championship, posting a league record of 14-1. Ohio's non-conference achievements were equally impressive, as they earned wins over Wake Forest, Clemson, Virginia Tech, and Notre Dame. The Bobcats scorched their opponents with an overpowering hitting attack, leading the nation in batting average. Ohio's team ERA was just 3.19, led by 13-0 pitcher Ed Robbins. Ohio traveled up the road to Columbus for the NCAA District IV playoffs. The Bobcats narrowly defeated Minnesota in game one, and then downed Southern Illinois in consecutive games to win the district. With the three wins, Ohio advanced to the College World Series for the only time in program history. The Bobcats held their own with the nation's best, defeating Southern Cal and Iowa State in Omaha. Ohio was eliminated by eventual champion Florida State but earned a fourth-place finish that stands today as the best-ever finish by a member of the MAC. Mike Hannah, Ed Robbins, and Mike Schmidt all earned NCAA All-American recognition. Schmidt and Steve Swisher went on to enjoy long MLB careers with Swisher playing from 1974-82 and Schmidt from 1972-1989.
