Oberlin, Ohio - Oberlin Baseball dropped their home opener to the Westminster College Titans today, falling 7-6 in 10 innings. 
 
On the bump, the Yeomen turned to freshman southpaw Warner Gearheart. The Riverside, Connecticut native fought through 2.1 innings, giving up seven hits and surrendering six earned runs.
 
Westminster jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the seventh thanks to a two-run home run to right from Andrew Wolf. 
 
Westminster added to their lead in the top of the third. Nicholas Parratto tripled into the right-center gap, scoring two to make it a 4-0 game. The next batter, Chase Tomko, doubled into the right-center gap to make it a 5-0 game before Braden Zeigler drove him home on an RBI single to center to make it a 6-0 game. 
 
The Oberlin bats were quiet until the bottom of the fifth. Freshman left fielder Daniel Devapalan led off the inning with a hit by a pitch and senior Zach Masnikoff doubled into the left-center gap to give the Yeomen second and third with nobody out. The next batter, freshman second baseman Jeffery Chen delivered a two-RBI single to center to bring the Yeomen within four. The following batter — Chen's middle infield counterpart — freshman shortstop Ryan Robinson hit a booming double off the base of the wall in center field to score Chen and make it a three-run game. After Robinson was caught stealing, Sophomore right fielder Brady Groves, senior catcher Anton Shelton and junior designated hitter Nik Mezzanotte walked to load the bases for senior third baseman Zachary RItts. On a 1-1 count, Ritts delivered a line drive single past a diving shortstop to plate two and make it a 6-5 ballgame. 
 
In relief of Gearheart, freshman right-hander Matthew Ruttkay shut down the Titans. The 6'6" Northbrook, Illinois native spun 5.2 innings of scoreless ball, striking out seven and scattering six hits.
 
"When I came into the game I was looking to get ahead early in counts and generate weak contact," Ruttkay said when asked about his game plan. "I wanted to be efficient so hitters could get back to the dugout and get a rally going."
 
With one out in the bottom of the eighth, with the Yeomen still trailing 6-5, Masnikoff delivered a towering solo home run to knot the score at 6.
 
"I was just trying to get on base and hit the ball hard," Masnikoff said when asked about his approach. "It felt great to tie the game, especially after being down early."
 
In the top of the ninth, freshman Dylan Norman came on in relief of Ruttkay. The righty set the Titans down to give the Yeomen a chance to walk it off in the bottom half of the ninth.
 
Unfortunately, the Yeomen were unable to capitalize, going 1-2-3 in the bottom half to send the game into extras. 
 
In the top of the tenth, Westminster scored what would be the game-winning run on an Oberlin error to make it a 7-6 game. 
 
A one-out walk by freshman left fielder Jack Braddell was all the Yeomen could muster 
in the bottom half of the tenth. 
 
The loss moves the Yeomen to 2-5 on the season and Westminster moves to 3-2 on the year. 
 
Oberlin Baseball is back at it this Saturday, March 8 at Dill Field with a doubleheader against Asbury University. First pitch of game one is scheduled for noon.  
 
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.