Ohio Baseball Opens 2023 at UNC Wilmington’s Hugh Bros. Challenge

Friday, February 17

Wilmington, NC

5 p.m.

UNC Wilmington

Ohio Baseball Opens 2023 at UNC Wilmington’s Hugh Bros. Challenge

2/16/2023 1:00:00 PM | Baseball

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Feb. 17 at UNCW | Wilmington, N.C. | 5 p.m. ET | Watch | Live Stats
Feb. 18 at UNCW | Wilmington, N.C. | 10:30 a.m. ET | Watch | Live Stats
Feb. 18 vs. Virginia | Wilmington, N.C. | 2 p.m. ET | Watch | Live Stats
Feb. 19 vs. Navy | Wilmington, N.C. | 11 a.m. ET | Watch | Live Stats

ATHENS, Ohio— The Ohio baseball team, led by third year head coach Craig Moore, is set to open the 2023 season Feb. 17-19 at UNC Wilmington's Hugh Bros. Challenge in Wilmington, N.C. The Bobcats will play four games in three days.

Ohio opens the weekend at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17 when they take on host UNC Wilmington at 5 p.m. The Bobcats are set to play the Seahawks again on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 10:30 a.m. before they face off against Virginia at 2 p.m. Ohio closes the weekend on Sunday, Feb. 19 when they take on the Navy at 11 a.m.

All games will be streamed on FloBaseball or followed on live stats.

Ohio finished the 2022 season 29-24 overall and 21-15 against Mid-American Conference opponents. They were selected to finish sixth in this year's MAC Preseason Poll.

The Bobcats return 21 from last season, including First Team All-MAC third baseman Colin Kasperbauer (Sioux City, Iowa), who led the team with a .389 batting average, 70 hits and four triples in 48 games. He was second in runs scored (49), doubles (18) and RBIs (48).

Also returning is Second Team All-MAC catcher Mason Minzey (Grand Blanc, Mich.). Minzey finished with a .304 batting average, leading the team in RBIs (50) and doubles (20). Redshirt sophomore AJ Rausch also returns for Ohio after a breakout 2022 season. Rausch finished with a .323 batting average, registering 62 hits in 189 at bats, highlighted by 13 doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 36 RBIs.

On the mound, graduate student Brenden Roder (Sioux City, Iowa) is set to return for his third season with the Bobcats. Roder threw for 52.2 innings in the 2022 season, recording a 4-3 record in 13 appearances with nine starts.

Ohio welcomes 14 newcomers, including freshmen Billy Adams, Jayden Jerger and Owen Williams. The Bobcats also welcome transfers Gideon Antle, Clay Cutter, Patrick DeMarco, Ben Hamilton Mitchell Hemmen, Dillon Masters, Luke Olson, Alec Patino, Carter Sabol, Trent Spoon and Cole Williams.

After this weekend, Ohio will travel to Bowling Green, Ky. from Feb. 24-26 for a four-game series against Western Kentucky. The Bobcats' home opener is scheduled for Friday, March 10 at 4 p.m. against the Bowling Green Falcons.

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