The women’s softball team returned from Myrtle Beach with their first win of the season and high hopes for their upcoming doubleheader against Lorain County Community College. After a shutout victory in the first game of the doubleheader, the Yeowomen suffered a letdown in a blowout loss.

Junior pitcher Kate Oberg refused to allow any runs on her turf for the first game and LCCC wallowed into the dugout with a 4-0 loss. Oberg pitched a complete game, seven-inning shutout with zero walks and two strikeouts. The Yeowomen let down their guard and lost the second game 16-2. The games against LCCC are not counted in the team’s overall record due to LCCC’s status as a junior college.

Two days after the LCCC games, the Yeowomen had another doubleheader, this time against the College of Wooster. The Yeowomen’s pitching in both games could not compare to the arms of the Fighting Scots. Head Coach Johanna Van Der Hulst explained that Wooster’s leading pitcher could not be tamed: “Outstanding pitching by Natalie Barone shut down our offense in game one.” The junior struck out eight and walked one to terminate the game.

The first game brought much disappointment with the Yeowomen being shut out 10-0. The second game showed promise with hits from first-year Sophia Simon-Ortiz, senior Julia Daher and sophomore Alexandra Plotsky. “Daher had a great bunt running Plotsky to home,” said Steele Hearne, a first-year who participates part-time with the team. The Yeowomen still fell to the Fighting Scots 16-1.

Van Der Hulst was proud of the perseverance the team showed to fight back in the last inning of game two when they could have given up, looking at a 16-0 loss.

Oberg is excited about the rest of the season and shared some goals they have set: “We are focused on playing the best we can as a team.” They wish to bring their individual skills into the master plan.

As one of two pitchers on the team, Oberg expressed her excitement about Simon-Ortiz, a lefty who spices up the Yeowomen’s usual recipe, sharing the pitching mound. “I’m glad to have another pitcher, it’s like we have a pitching staff. I can pitch my hardest for one game, and there is not as much pressurem” she said. Last season Oberg was the only pitcher with the significant responsibility to lead the team.

There are five new first-years that the team agrees are great editions: Simon-Ortiz, Michelle Descheenie, Hearne, Spencer McCaffrey and Caitlin Younts. Van Der Hulst looks forward to the games this weekend and hopes to bring home a win. “I think that during the Wooster games we got rid of the season opening jitters and know what it takes to perform well in our four games this weekend” she said.

With a doubleheader against Denison on Saturday, the team hopes to come out victorious with home-field advantage. Going into the weekend the Yeowomen stand with a 1-8 record and 0-2 in the NCAC.