Baseball takes on Kenyon: Senior Troy DeWitt steps to the plate against Kenyon.

This weekend gave Oberlin’s baseball plenty of time to become familiar with the Hiram Terriers. All four of the Yeomen’s games this week were played within a span of 72 hours at Fishel Field against NCAC Eastern Division rivals Hiram.

The Yeomen were unable to pick up a win in the series, which leaves them with a record of 10-21 on the year and 1-13 in the conference.

Two of Oberlin’s four losses over the weekend were one-run heartbreakers, the first by a score of 3-4 on Saturday.

Hiram third baseman Mike Beard drove in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh, scoring pinch-runner Robert Walle. Beard roped a base-loaded single to right center field off Oberlin sophomore reliever Steve Solomon, who had come in to relieve senior starter Peter Wyatt in the final frame.

The Yeomen took a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth when sophomore Nick Broughton’s clutch two-out base knock to the left side brought first-year Jesse Cullen-Dupont in from third, showing some offensive promise.

“Everyone on the team is capable of being a good hitter,” Solomon said.

Wyatt allowed the tying run in the bottom of the inning, a single to Hiram designated hitter Jeff Nastase. Oberlin was unable to respond in the top of the seventh, giving the Terriers the opportunity to win it in their last at bat. Wyatt was charged with the loss, lowering his record to 4-2.

Oberlin lost by a 7–3 count in Saturday’s second game. Sophomore leftfielder Landon Lerner had a productive game, going 1 for 2 with a RBI with a run scored. Senior John Damron took the loss to fall to 1-4.

Damron was chased by the Hiram hitters with two out in the second inning and Oberlin down 7-0. First-year Jaremy Rich came in to throw 3.1 scoreless innings, and was followed by junior Ryan Squatrito, who tossed a single frame without allowing a run. All three Oberlin runs came in the fifth inning.

Monday’s first game also ended with the Terriers on top 7-3. Oberlin scored once in the first, when Cullen-Dupont dashed home from third on a wild pitch and twice in the seventh on RBI singles by Broughton and senior co-captain, starting pitcher Troy DeWitt. DeWitt pitched all six innings for the Yeomen. After allowing six runs in a first inning that opened with Hiram’s leadoff hitter reaching second on an error, the senior hurler from San Diego cruised, allowing only one run on two hits while whiffing seven Terriers.

Oberlin came tantalizingly close again in Monday’s nightcap, this time falling by a score of 6-5 despite out-hitting Hiram 12 to six. Junior catcher Andrew Caprariello had a big day at the plate, going 3 for 4 with an RBI triple and a run scored.

The Yeomen came within a run of tying the ballgame in the sixth when sophomore Chad Kutting scored on a wild pitch by Hiram’s Mike Benetka. Caprariello then made his only out of the game to end the inning and the rally, with Cullen-Dupont as the tying run 90 feet away. Junior Ryan Drews starting for Oberlin, threw 4.1 innings, allowed six hits and six runs and fanned four. Drew took the loss and is now 4-2.

The win gave Hiram’s 13-year coach Howard Jenter his 200th career win.

The games against Hiram set the Yeomen’s record to 10-21 on the season, falling below their goals for the season.

“Coming into the season we had some high expectations, a team goal of over 20 wins,” Solomon said.

Oberlin takes on Lake Erie College at home on Saturday at noon.