This past week, the Oberlin College baseball team experienced the most pivotal few days of their season. With a four-game set against Allegheny for the number two seed in the NCAC East and a trip to the playoffs on the line, the Yeomen only won one of the four games over the weekend and dropped into third place.

The first game at Dill Field was nothing short of a battle of aces. First-year starter Jack Dunn pitched a complete game, allowed no runs, surrendered just four hits and struck out eight. Allegheny’s starter, Colt Viehdorfer, also pitched a complete game, allowing six hits and striking out five.

With both pitchers exceptionally sharp, the difference in the game ended up being defense. The Yeomen scored both their runs thanks to Allegheny errors, while stout defense prevented Allegheny from mounting any serious threats as the Yeomen won 2-0.

The same defense that gave the Yeomen the win in the first game on Saturday ended up costing them in the second game. Allegheny capitalized on two Yeomen errors in the third to score seven runs in the inning.

Led by senior Seth Binder’s pair of RBIs and multiple runs from senior Jesse Cullen-Dupont and sophomore Calvin Kyrkostas, Oberlin’s offense began to rally together. However, the offense could not overcome the three errors and five unearned runs allowed by the defense during the game, and the Yeomen lost 13-8.

On Sunday, Oberlin lost the first contest 1-6. The Yeomen could not capitalize on four Allegheny errors as they left seven men in scoring position, hit into two double plays and had a runner thrown out at home.

With Allegheny taking game three, the end results of the weekend hinged on the final game. With a Yeomen win, Oberlin and Allegheny would be tied in the NCAC with two and four conference games left to play respectively, all six of which are against Kenyon.

Allegheny, however, was in no mood to allow this to happen as they gave the Yeomen a beat down. Oberlin allowed runs in all but one inning, including seven in the top of the fourth, as Allegheny rolled 18-4.

The one-win, three-loss weekend dropped Oberlin to 6-8 in the NCAC while Allegheny is now 7-5. Oberlin is in a tight spot in regards to the playoffs, but they still have a little hope.

Oberlin will need a lot of help from Kenyon, not to mention a little luck, but statistically they are still alive. Even if luck does not come through, the Yeomen will look to finish the season strong.

Oberlin plays its last home game of the season on Thursday, May 3 at 3:30 p.m. It will be the final game in crimson and gold for four seniors: Seth Binder, Rick Betzel, Jesse Cullen-Dupont and Jaremy Rich.

“I get excited about every game we play,” said Rich. “Regardless of the circumstance, they all mean a lot to me.”