Oberlin, Ohio - The Oberlin College baseball team closed out the 2023 season, falling 5-1 and 18-9 to the 11th-ranked Denison University Big Red on Sunday afternoon at Dill Field. 

The Yeomen finished the season with a record of 11-24 and 4-12 in the NCAC, while the Big Red secured the top spot in the upcoming North Coast Athletic Tournament at 31-8 overall and a perfect 16-0 in league play. 

Junior ace Vince Dolcemaschio (1-6) dazzled on the bump for seven innings, striking out a career-high eight hitters, but he was ultimately the tough-luck loser after surrendering seven hits and five runs (four earned) to go along with one walk and one hit batter. 

An Oberlin error led to a first-inning run for the Big Red, but Doclemaschio would keep the potent Denison lineup scoreless from that point on until the sixth inning. Unfortunately, Nick Falter was equally as impressive in stymying the Yeomen, sprinkling six hits and two strikeouts over six innings of work as he moved to 7-0 on the year. 

Ari Fierer, who went 4-for-4, drove in his second run of the game in the sixth, but the Yeomen would trim the lead in half in the bottom of the inning as senior Max Anastasio poked a two-out RBI single into left center to score classmate Jacob Thompson. 

Unfortunately, southpaw George Viebrock came out of the Denison bullpen to toss the final three innings that saw him allow just one hit as he locked down his fourth save of the year after Eric Colaco delivered a back-breaking three-run home run in the top part of the inning. 

Oberlin finished with seven hits in the game, two of which came courtesy of Thompson. 

It was a seesaw affair in the nightcap as the Yeomen trailed 6-0 after two innings only to eventually tie it 9-9 in the fifth before the Big Red pulled away. 

Oberlin would cut the lead in half with three runs in the third on an RBI single by Andrew Salamy and Thompson would follow with a two-run home run to finish his career with five dingers. 

The Yeomen would strike again in the third inning with two outs as senior Chris Wolfe and sophomore Max Cairo each came through with run-scoring singles to shrink the deficit down to just one at 6-5.

The Big Red would respond with three runs in the fourth inning to chase starter Justin Fuls from the game but the Yeomen bats kept swinging, getting a pair back in the fourth inning on a single from Anatasio and a perfectly executed first-and-third double steal play. 

The Yeomen would level the game at 9-9 in the fifth as senior John Schooner picked up an RBI single to center and Zach Masnikoff would later come home on a double steal. 

Big Red starter Will Rettig came in with a 1.59 ERA with eight earned runs allowed the entire year but the Yeomen roughed him up for 13 hits and nine runs in just 4.1 innings. 

However, Manny Nager came out of the bullpen to steady the ship for the Big Red, not allowing a hit over 3.2 innings, meanwhile the Yeomen relievers went on to allow nine runs over the final four innings. 

Eight Oberlin pitchers combined to give up 15 hits, 16 earned runs, 13 walks and three hit batters to go along with seven strikeouts. 

The Yeomen finished with 14 hits, four of which came off the bat of Dolcemaschio. Schooner and Anastasio each had two in their final games in the Crimson and Gold.

Oberlin will begin its preparations for the 2024 season when it opens its non-traditional practice window in the fall.