Westerville, OH - On a beautiful Tuesday afternoon, Oberlin baseball fell in their midweek matchup against Otterbein University, 5-1.
 
Sophomore Davis Hayes got his first start of the season in the matchup. The Ashville, NC native fired 5.2 innings of four-run ball while scattering eight hits and striking out two.
 
"Today I was able to mix five different pitches effectively, keeping hitters guessing at the plate," Hayes said when asked about his successful outing. "I typically pitch backwards to hitters; off-speed pitches are my bread and butter."
 
Sophomore Warner Gearhart came on in relief of Hayes in the bottom of the sixth. With two out and runners on second and third, Gearhart induced a weak flyout to right, to keep the score 4-0 at the end of the inning. 
 
Gearhart, making his four appearance of the year, was rock solid out of the pen. The lefty cruised through 2.1 innings, allowing no hits and one unearned run while striking out one. 
 
In the top of the ninth, the Yeomen mounted a comeback attempt that was ultimately futile. Senior shortstop Zachary Ritts led off the inning with a single through the 5-6 hole, and with one out, Ritts recorded his 14th stolen base of the season to put himself in scoring position. After freshman second baseman AJ Senga reached on an error, sophomore right fielder Brady Groves bounced a ball through the 5-6 hole to put the Yeomen on the board and end the shutout.
 
Unfortunately, that was the only run Oberlin could scrap across. The following two batters were retired to end the game.
 
Oberlin recorded five hits. Ritts tallied his third multi-hit game of the season. Senga, Groves, and freshman shortstop Ryan Robinson all registered hits as well.
 
The loss moves Oberlin to 3-10 while Otterbein advances to 8-8 on the season.
 
Oberlin takes the field again this Saturday, March 22, at Caltech for the opening doubled header of their spring break trip. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. PST. 
 
Fans can keep up with their favorite teams on Instagram, Facebook, X, or TikTok, and watch all the home matches live online. The Crimson and Gold's home broadcasts can be accessed on TV through the official Oberlin College Sports Network app on Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV.