Preview: Ohio at Eastern Michigan

YPSILANTI, Mich. (Interstat) — The Ohio Bobcats and Eastern Michigan Eagles meet Thursday in a Mid-American Conference baseball game at Oestrike Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for the afternoon. The forecast calls for cloudy skies and a temperature of 49 degrees.

Ohio (10-41) enters on a three-game losing streak, most recently falling 8-3 to Toledo on Sunday. The Bobcats have lost nine of their last 10 contests. Eastern Michigan (17-33) is coming off a 5-2 loss at Michigan State on Tuesday. The Eagles have dropped two straight.

A player to watch for Ohio is right-handed pitcher Evan Lichtenauer. In his most recent outing Sunday, Lichtenauer allowed two earned runs on four hits over 6 2/3 innings. He threw a seven-inning shutout against Massachusetts on May 3, striking out one and scattering no hits. In four appearances spanning April 18 to Sunday, the starter has posted a 2.73 ERA across 23 innings, striking out six.

For Eastern Michigan, right-handed reliever Michael Pfeiffer is a key arm out of the bullpen. Over his past five appearances, he has allowed two earned runs in 7 2/3 innings, striking out seven. In his most recent outing Tuesday, Pfeiffer threw three scoreless, hitless innings against Michigan State. He has not allowed a hit in four of his last five appearances.

The teams are set to continue the series Friday and Saturday at Oestrike Stadium.

The Interstat’s game simulator projects a 5-2 Eastern Michigan victory.