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ATHENS, Ohio — The Ohio baseball team is eager to channel its high energy into the 2025 season. After a long preseason, the Bobcats are focused on starting strong by staying aggressive and pushing through adversity.

"It's exciting to get out of the dugout and onto the field with new brothers," said redshirt senior Nick Dolan (Pittsburgh, Pa.). "We're ready to go out and show what we've been working on the past couple of months."
Head coach Craig Moore, entering his fourth season as head coach and 14th year with the Bobcats, has his sights set on a postseason appearance.

"Our team is hungry to make it to the postseason," Moore said. "We missed the last two years, and they're coming into this year with more effort and enthusiasm."

Ohio's roster includes key returners alongside several fresh faces. There are eight freshman this season and five transfers. 

"We have a lot of new guys and returners from last season who are constantly improving, which is exciting to see," Dolan said. "I think it's going to be a statement season for Ohio."

The Bobcats will rely on their strong pitching staff this year, including graduate student Jacob Tate (Louisville, Tenn.). Senior Dillon Masters (New Albany, Ohio) and Blake Gaskey (Davenport, Iowa) also return. Both pitchers tied for 57 strikeouts last season.

"Overall, as a staff, we've been working really hard," Tate said. "We've set high goals for ourselves this season, and want to perform well and strive to be the best."

On the defensive side, sophomore JR Nelson (Vernon Hills, Ill.) is a key returner who earned Mid-American Conference All-Defensive Team honors last season. As a freshman, Nelson started all 49 games, in which he recorded 59 putouts and 124 assists, with a mere seven errors. Senior Wes Lug (Huntersville, N.C.) will also contribute. Last season he recorded a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage on 81 total chances.

At the plate, sophomore Pauly Mancino (Westlake, Ohio) will be helpful for the Bobcats. In 2024, Mancino tallied a .248 batting average as a true freshman. 

Ohio's season opens February 14 with a three-game series at Wofford in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It will stay on the road for another weekend, taking on West Georgia from February 21-23, before facing West Virginia on February 25.

"We're really looking forward to opening day against Wofford and getting the chance to play a good team that will excite us for the rest of the season," Moore said. "It's also going to be another very competitive conference season this year."

Ohio will host Butler in its home opener at Bob Wren Stadium on February 28, kicking off a three-game series in Athens. MAC play begins March 7 against Bowling Green, with other key conference matchups against Central Michigan, Toledo and Miami. The Bobcats will also face Ohio State in Columbus on May 6, a highly anticipated in-state battle late in the season.

"The team's made great improvements during practice, and we're definitely ready to go," Tate said. "It's going to be an aggressive year."

With renewed energy and hunger for success, the Bobcats are determined to make the 2025 season one to remember.

#OUOhyeah