By chalking up a 3-6 record in their first nine games, the Oberlin College women’s softball team has equaled last year’s win total, prompting higher expectations from team members this season.
“I think finishing in the middle of the conference would be a realistic goal,” sophomore Julia Daher said. “I think we can win some conference games.”
Having competed against both nationally ranked and less seasoned programs early in the season, the team will enter the bulk of their conference schedule with experience at both ends of the spectrum.
The Yeowomen opened the season March 19 with a doubleheader sweep over Lake Erie College, 11-4, 16-1.
Daher and senior Maria Balducci led the way in the two victories. Daher went four for seven at the plate on the day, with a double, a triple, two runs batted in, a stolen base and two runs scored.
In addition to her contributions on offense, which included a double, six runs and five walks, Balducci also pitched in the second game, giving up one run and three hits in five innings.
First-year pitcher Kate Oberg, who called the first outing against Lake Erie “really encouraging,” struck out nine batters and walked two in the first game, yielding eight hits and four runs.
Junior Laura Wallerstein agreed with Oberg’s assessment.
“It’s always good to start out strong, especially since it was our first time on the field,” she said. “It really built up the confidence of some of the freshmen and helped the upperclassmen realize that this season could be different.”
The Yeowomen next faced Kenyon College in their conference opener March 22, losing the doubleheader 2-0, 7-1.
“The game against Kenyon was definitely competitive,” Wallerstein said. “We had a bad first inning in each game. That kills you.”
Kenyon scored eight of their total nine runs collectively in the first inning on the day.
“We have to work on being a solid team for seven innings,” Daher said. “We can’t have one inning where we have a breakdown.”
After the losses, the team soon departed for the more favorable weather of the South, embarking on a week-long spring break trip to Georgia where they played three area colleges.
The team stayed at a hotel in downtown Atlanta and traveled out of the city to compete against Piedmont College, Emory University and Shorter College, resulting in a 1-4 spring break record.
The Yeowomen were swept 7-0, 13-1 by Piedmont in a doubleheader, fell 15-1 to Emory and split with Shorter, losing 19-9 in the first game but winning the second 12-3.
Daher called the game against Emory, ranked third in a national poll, “a learning experience.
“They were a beatable team, and scored most of their runs in the first inning,” she said. “It was a good experience for us to see that level of play and how they can execute consistently.”
“The Emory game was short and painful,” Wallerstein said of the mercy rule-shortened contest. “After that one long inning, it was definitely hard to get runs back. The score didn’t indicate it, but they didn’t dominate. The pitcher was hittable.”
Oberg called the 12-3 win against Shorter “a well-played game.
“Everyone was really in the game,” she said. “We were very aggressive on the base paths.”
Though softball was the main purpose of the trip, the team found a little time for relaxation.
“Some weekday nights people would study,” Oberg said. “We went to some restaurants, to ESPN Zone and to see a comedian,” Oberg said.
“Mostly by the time we got back at night from games people were exhausted,” Wallerstein added.
Oberg said that the trip was a helpful barometer for the team, especially in her case as a first-year pitcher.
“I’m going to remember that trip for the rest of the season,” she said. “It gave me a lot of experience. It also called attention to little specific details the team needs to iron out — things that occur against good opponents who take advantage of everything.”
According to Daher, after the Yeowomen returned to Oberlin they got right to the “ironing out” process.
“Now we’re figuring out the kinks,” she said. “[Tuesday] in practice we worked on cutoffs for the outfield for plays at home plate. We also had a few wrinkles in bunt coverage that we need to work out.”
Wallerstein summed up the aspirations for the season with a basic but potent objective.
“Our goal,” she said, “is to win. Everyone has to have their individual goals, but as for the team — the team has to win.”
The Yeowomen will be looking to do just that as they travel to Wittenberg tomorrow.