Brian Price/THE POST Ohio catcher Jen Sewell takes a hack against Pittsburgh April 6. Ohio is on the road again April 30 against Akron.

It's really very simple for Ohio softball coach Roanna Brazier. She will be looking for Ohio to sweep Marshall when the Bobcats battle the Thundering Herd in a 2 p.m. doubleheader today.

"If we play our game, I don't see why we can't win the last twelve games," she said. "We have to if we want to have any chance at winning the (Mid-American Conference)."

Kent has ridden into first place in the MAC East Division on the heels of its four straight wins over the weekend.

The Golden Flashes are a half-game up on Ohio with a 12-6 MAC record. The Bobcats are 23-26 overall and 11-6 in the MAC.

Ohio has 12 games left in the season and all of which are on the road. Ten of the final 12 games are conference games including a May 1 doubleheader with Kent for MAC East Division supremacy.

With that many road games, Ohio must do better than its 2-9 road record so far this season. Brazier said playing on the road is a different mindset.

"It is a different mindset because it's not comfortable," Brazier said. "I think the biggest factor is always the traveling. You are sleeping in a different bed. You are on a different schedule.

" I have all the confidence in the world that we will be fine on the road."

Brazier said the team took 2 of 3 games when it traveled to Miami and Bowling Green on April 16 and 17. Centerfielder Missy Samus said playing on the road will be difficult.

"It'll be a challenge," Samus said. "It always is. Lately our home crowds have been nice and big and loud, and we will be playing some tough competition on the road. We just have to play our game."

Ohio and Marshall last saw each other April 20 when Marshall topped Ohio 5-4 in 11 innings in the second game of a doubleheader. Ohio won the first game 2-0 behind pitcher Kasey Dowd's complete game shutout.

"We are going to need to play together," Samus said. "Offensively and defensively, we need to come together for the rest of the season. We have a good team, and we need to utilize that."

The Thundering Herd has been up and down all season long. They are 22-19 overall and 6-8 in the MAC. It is in fourth place in the East Division, one game behind Bowling Green in the race for the MAC tournament. The top three teams from the West and East Division qualify for the MAC Tournament.

They are led by sophomore catcher Aimee Reiner who leads the team in batting average, home runs and RBIs. She touched up Ohio for a two- run home run in the Herd's victory over Ohio.

The pitching has also been stellar for Marshall. Their three pitchers have a team earned run average of 2.08.

"It's important for us to stay motivated and keep the energy up," outfielder Jennifer Schmidt said. "If we give 100 percent for 14 innings, I don't think anyone can stop us."