Memphis, TN- The Oberlin College softball team finished their Memphis trip with a pair of losses to Rhodes College on Sunday afternoon. The first game finished 8-4 with game two ending 16-8 in favor of Lynx. At the end of the opening weekend, Oberlin sits at a 2-2 record.
Starting on the mound in her collegiate debut,
Liz Laudicina got the game going before the Yeowomen brought
Alaina Di Dio out of the bull pen for the final four innings.
The Yeowomen looked to get off to a quick start as
Cat Moruzzi hit a single up the middle to move
Haley Bartsch to second. The energy halted there are the Lynx got three straight outs to close the first inning. Coming off defensive momentum, Rhodes hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the first to jump ahead of the Yeowomen 3-0. The hitting Lynx kept swinging into the second inning, adding another three runs to their lead and another two in the third inning.
Up 8-0 on Oberlin, the Crimson and Gold found their groove in the top of the fourth.
Loren Carter started the inning off with a double to center field, followed by
Vianca Dagnino who drew a walk. With batters on first and second,
Kathryn Beeman stepped up to the plate and roped a single to the right, bringing home Carter to put Oberlin on the board. Next at bat, senior
Anna Slebonick knocked the ball out of the park to bring everyone home and bring the score to 8-4.
Neither team were able to convert a hit for the remainder of the game, but a valiant effort from the Oberlin squad gave the young team momentum headed into the second game with the Lynx.
Taking the mound in the second game was Jessica Friedman with relief from
Katie Austin and
Calliope Lissak.
Rhodes jumped to an early lead of 4-0 on Oberlin, but the Yeowomen responded with a strong third inning. Slebonick and Moruzzi got things started with back-to-back singles/ With runners on second and third, Carter belted a three-run home run to bring the Yeowomen within one of the Lynx lead. Rhodes responded in the following inning with a pair of runs to give themselves a 6-3 advantage.
At the top of the fourth the Yeowomen caught fire, starting with a Slebonick's single to left field. With the bases loaded, Moruzzi hit a two-run RBI to second base just before Bratsch scored on a passed ball. Tied 6-6, Carter hit a single through the left side, bringing home Moruzzi and giving Oberlin the first lead of the day.
The Lynx tied the game in the next inning and began to run away with the game in the bottom of the fifth, as they scored six runs. Oberlin responded with another run coming off a hit from Carter but were unable to seal the deal as Rhodes scored three more to seal the victory.
The Yeowomen return to the diamond on Saturday, February 26 when travel to Raleigh, North Carolina for the Grand Slam Classic. The Crimson and gold will take on Kean University at 10am, followed by North Carolina Wesleyan College at 3 p.m.
Fans can watch all the home matches
live online. Home contests can be accessed on a TV through the official
Oberlin College Sports Network app on Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV.
