Wilmore, Kentucky - The Oberlin College baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader against Asbury University on Saturday. In game one, the Yeomen fell 11-1 before losing 7-6 in ten innings in game two.
 
Setting conference history, senior third baseman Zachary RItts tied the NCAC all-time single-game stolen base record with seven in the team's second game. The record had previously been set back in 2001 by Denison's Brian Regan.

"It feels great to break a record like that," Ritts said when asked about his record-breaking day. "I love being aggressive on the bases and putting myself in a position for my teammates to score me."

Sophomore Calvin Burkholder got the nod for the Yeomen in game one. A week removed from being named NCAC Pitcher of the Week, the righty fought through three innings, scattering seven hits and giving up seven runs (four earned) while striking out three. 
 
Heading into the seventh, the Yeomen were down 10-0. A flurry of Asbury hits and some poor Oberlin defense placed the Yeomen in a large hole.
The Yeoman's only run of the game came in the top of the seventh. Junior third baseman Alex Gaetano led off the inning with an infield single before coming around to score on a sac fly from freshman second baseman Jeffery Chen to make it a 10-1 game.
 
In relief of Burkholder, the duo of sophomore Davis Hayes and freshman Lachlan Nichol combined to go three innings, giving up four earned runs while striking out four.
The game ended in the eighth inning due to a mercy.
 
In game two, the Yeomen turned to sophomore Grayson Black. The righty built off a strong start at Berea College last weekend, going six strong innings, only giving up four hits and striking out five.
 
Asbury got on the board quickly in the bottom of the first on a run-scoring balk from Black, but Oberlin responded quickly. 
 
In the top of the third, with the bases loaded, sophomore right fielder Brady Groves was hit by a pitch, scoring freshman second baseman AJ Senga from third to make it a 1-1 game. 
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Asbury capitalized on some poor Yeomen defense, scoring two runs to take a 3-1 lead. 
 
Once again, the Yeomen responded immediately. With two outs in the top of the fifth, Groves was hit by a pitch. The next batter, junior catcher Anton Shelton lined a single into the right-center gap to put runners on the corners for junior designated hitter Nic Mezzanotte. On a 0-1 count, Mezzanotte deposited a ball over the right field fence to give Oberlin a 4-3 lead. It was Mezzanottes first career collegiate home run. 
 
The Yeomen added to their lead in the top of the sixth. The inning opened with walks to Senga and Masnikoff to set up first and second with nobody out. The next batter, sophomore first baseman Kyle Baxt, laced a single into the left-center gap to score Senga and push the lead to two. Shelton delivered a sac fly to right, scoring Masnikoff to make it a 6-3 game. 
 
From there, it was all Asbury. After taking on two runs in the bottom of the seventh to make it a 6-5 game, Asbury tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with a sac fly to right. 
 
After holding Oberlin scoreless in the top of the tenth, Asbury was able to capitalize, hitting a ground ball single up the middle to win the game.
 
The Yeomen are back in action on Thursday, March 14, at Muskingum University. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
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.