With just six conference games left on the schedule, the Ohio baseball team begins its final surge toward the postseason tournament tonight against rival Miami.

The decisive three-game series tonight between the Bobcats (18-23, 10-11 Mid-American Conference) and RedHawks (25-22, 12-9 MAC) is expected to determine sole possession of second place in the MAC East Division. Ohio is just one game behind Miami for the East’s second bid to the MAC Tournament.

The top two seeds of each division and the following best two teams overall qualify to compete in the tourney. Because four West Division schools have above .500 records, Ohio’s only chance at its first postseason berth since 2003 is to claim second place in the East Division.

Outfielder Matt Stiffler described that it’s a simple strategy for Ohio to continue to the tournament.

“Basically we have to win a lot of games,” Stiffler said. “We have to win more than we lose definitely.”

Although Ohio suffered a tough non-conference loss Wednesday to Dayton, the ’Cats are coming off a conference series win last weekend against Akron.

After dropping the series opener, 14-4, Ohio charged back behind the pitching performances of Anthony Gressick and spot starter Yale Silverman to win the final two games.

“The whole team played great (Sunday),” Silverman said. “We swung the bats, ran the bases well, made plays defensively and came out and took the series.”

Coach Joe Carbone discussed the significance of Silverman’s outing in Sunday’s win, considering he typically works out of the bullpen.

“We like him in relief because he’s just so different when he comes in relief,” Carbone said. “Guys don’t adjust to him at least around the horn one time.”

Silverman, who generally works as a middle reliever for the Bobcats, said he is open to the possibility of accepting Ohio’s third starting role.

“I’ll do whatever I’m needed to do,” Silverman said. “Whatever they need me for I’ll do it.”

Carbone wrapped up his thoughts on the team’s performance against Akron, stating that each series is significant in the conference standings as the tournament approaches.

“It allows us to still hang in there,” Carbone said “We won more than we lost. We had to do that.”

The three-game MAC series between the Bobcats and RedHawks begins at 6:30 tonight in Oxford.