Tucson, AZ – The Oberlin College baseball team opened its annual spring break trip to Tucson, Arizona with a sweep of Concordia University (WI), winning game one 20-6 before walking-off with a 5-4 win in the nightcap.
As a team the Yeomen pounded out 31 hits, headlined by
Brendan Mapes (7) and
Ben Reed (5) who combined for 12 hits in the sweep.
In game one the Yeomen led 4-2 after two innings as the four-run second featured a two-RBI single down the left field line by Reed and run-producing plate appearances by
Nick Nelson and Mapes.
The Yeomen would break the game open with five runs in the fourth before pouring on nine runs in the fifth to leave no doubt in the eventual outcome of game one.
Rookie
Jacob Thompson worked the front four innings, recording his second win of the year as he allowed three runs while striking out six.
Reed went 4-for-4 with four runs scored and three RBIs, while Mapes had three hits in the lid-lifter.
Parker Goldstein,
Jack Marsjanik, and Thompson each had two hits in the win.
Game two was much more closely contested as the Yeomen finally prevailed in their last at-bat.
After three scoreless innings, the Falcons posted the game's first runs with a pair in the fourth.
Oberlin would take advantage of a Falcons' error to cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning. Going into the home half of the fifth it was 3-1 CUW, but the Yeomen quickly got to even as Mapes led off the frame with a single and scored on a double to right center gap by
Lawrence Hamilton. Goldstein would then rope a ball right up the box to tie the game at 3-3.
The Falcons would retake the lead with a solo tally in the top of the seventh but the Yeomen would not be denied of the sweep.
Alexis Castillo got the rally rolling with a double that short-hopped the wall in right center and Mapes would follow with a two-base hit to score pinch runner
Ian Dinsmore to tie the game. As the inning progressed, freshman
Nick Nelson would come to the plate with two on and two out, smoking the first pitch he saw to the gap in left center to score the game-winning run.
Ian Ashby got the win in relief after working the final two innings to run his record to 1-0.
Oberlin is back in action tomorrow against Grinnell College. First pitch of game one is set for 1:00 Pm EDT.
