Oberlin finished its season Saturday with a conference doubleheader in Granville, Ohio against Denison University. Capping a season that most outsiders would look at as a joke, farce or complete disaster, Oberlin headed to Granville with their heads held high ready to play.

The first game started with flair as Oberlin came out swinging and got it done at the plate in the first inning. First-year Alex Plotsky snagged a base hit with two outs, then was advanced to third by junior Julia Daher, who hit a double, but as Plotsky charged home to score she was thrown out at the plate.

It has been a long season marked by close games that usually finished in a loss for the Yeowomen. Though Oberlin was not rewarded in the win column this season, the team still views the overall outcome as a success.

“It’s not always about winning and losing, it’s about going out there and trying to reach your potential every day,” senior Sarah Benjamin said. “Some days are better than others, above all I know that every time we played this season we had our hearts and minds in it. Some days things just didn’t turn out perfectly.”

After Oberlin’s flurry of hits in the first inning, things calmed down and both pitchers found their rhythm. Denison was able to capitalize on Oberlin’s single error of the game and pull out three unanswered runs, blanking the Yeowomen 3-0.

The season could easily be looked at as a disaster but Benjamin has a different perspective.

“The team is still young, mostly freshmen and sophomores, a few juniors, too. As long as these ladies can learn from the games we played this season, next season they will be able to use those lessons to their advantage,” she said. “When we lost we didn’t lose the lesson.”

The second game on Saturday fell apart for Oberlin, as the women lost 12-0. There were some moments of brilliance and excitement, but for the most part those were fleeting.

Oberlin strung together six hits but each time was unable to bring a runner from scoring position home for the run.

Ultimately it was a year of experience and learning for Oberlin’s softball team. Next season the team will look to come back and be competitive in the powerful NCAC conference.