Natalie Boydston / Staff Photographer / nb397205@ohiou.edu

Ohio infielder Bryant Witt tags out Marshall outfielder Nick Damas as he tries to steal during the top of the sixth inning Wednesday in the Bobcats’ 9-6 win over the Thundering Herd. The Bobcats host Ball State this weekend.

The last time Ohio saw its starter last six or more innings was back on March 18 against Oakland, and coach Joe Carbone is ready to switch up his starting rotation.

Kevin Mementowski and Chris Rigo, who both function primarily as relievers, will start today and tomorrow, respectively, for the Bobcats before Zeke Isaacs makes Ohio’s final start of the series against Ball State on Sunday.

“We just feel it’s time for a change here, so we’re going to see what they can do as starters,” Carbone said.

With the development of Mementowski’s and Rigo’s breaking balls and change-ups, Carbone said both have the strong repertoire of pitches needed for success as a starter.

Mementowski’s 1.96 ERA through his six appearances, including one start, is the lowest of any Ohio pitcher. In his last relief outing last Friday against Toledo, the right-hander allowed one run on seven hits in 5 and 1/3 innings pitched.

“I’m just going to try and carry out what I’ve been doing in my long relief,” Mementowski said. “Rather than coming in, in the third inning, when we’re already trailing, it’ll be in to start, and maybe I’ll get us off to a lead early in the game rather than coming from behind like we have been lately.”

Carbone likes Mementowski’s consistent performances out of the bullpen, but said the change is necessary.

“We’d like to keep him as a relief pitcher, but we think we need to get him in there in the starting unit and give us more innings,” Carbone said. “He’s gone more innings in relief than a lot of our starters go in their starts.”

Rigo said he doesn’t mind making his first career start for Ohio against Ball State tomorrow instead of coming out of the bullpen.

“It’s really easy to prepare for,” the sophomore right-hander, who has a 3.60 ERA in nine relief appearances this season, said. “You know when you’re throwing and you don’t have to play the guessing game.”

With the hope of longer outings from its starting pitchers, Ohio looks to earn its first conference win of the season as Ball State (11-16, 2-4 Mid-American Conference) visits Bob Wren Stadium this weekend. The Bobcats (10-15) are off to their first 0-6 start in MAC play for the first time in Carbone’s 19 years as Ohio coach.