America’s favorite pastime has struck again and Oberlin baseball is in full swing. After being forced to check their bats within the confines of Jones Fieldhouse, the Yeo-batters had their first opportunity to smack some balls during the team’s annual Spring Break trip to Florida.

The Clearwater Invitational offered diverse competition as well as a conference preview when Oberlin faced off against NCAC rival Wooster. The Yeomen finished break with a 3-7 record, notching wins against Williams and Hartwick. “Going into all our Spring Break trips we know we haven’t been outside. The schools we are playing have been on their fields for a while. We are looking to get things going and improve going in to the conference,” commented junior Chad Kutting.

With Spring Break behind them, the Yeomen found themselves back in Ohio and swept into a whirlwind four game series with the Kenyon Lords. Oberlin came out strong in the first game and both teams recorded 14 hits, but spurred by a six run third inning, it was the Lords that finished on top, 11-8. The second game produced a similarly strong offensive effort from the Lords who brought eight home in the third and six in the fifth. The Yeomen were unable to make solid contact in the second game, registering only five hits, ending the game 18-7.

Gloves snapped and sunflower seeds went flying in the second Kenyon double header as both teams went head to head in a battle of the bats. The Yeo-batters snatched the lead in the first game but were unable to stop an 18 run fourth inning that put the Lords back in the game. Despite being out-hit 15-24, the Yeomen put together a sixth inning rally, but they were unable to overtake the Lords and finished 24-22. Junior Joe Sheehan and senior Kyle Neumeier led the charge with three runs each.

“We should have won some of the Kenyon games. I’m proud of our comeback in the 24-22 loss. I’m happy that some sophomores, particularly Seth [Binder] and Jesse [Cullen-Dupont], stepped up,” said Neumeier.

Both teams slowed things down in the second game but Oberlin was unable to generate the hits needed to topple the Lords. The 11-5 game concluded Kenyon’s four game sweep of the Yeomen. Junior Nick Broughton summed up the Kenyon series: “When one is on, another is off. When our pitching is on, we’re not getting it done in the field. If pitching and fielding are on, we’re not getting it done at the plate.”

The tides turned for the Yeomen when they hosted Case Western on Wednesday and added another win to their record. Led by Broughton’s five runs and Neumeier’s five RBIs, Oberlin won 16-8. “We seized opportunities, didn’t commit errors, which hurt us against Kenyon, and continued to hit the ball. We had great pitching by Joe [Reisz],” explained Neumeier.

The Yeo-batters stand at 4-14 for the season and are looking for their first conference win this Saturday when they hose a doubleheader against Allegheny.