Sewanee, Tennessee - In Oberlin College baseball's first twin bill of the season, the Yeomen dropped game one against The University of the South before tying in game two.

In the first half of the doubleheader, reigning All-Conference selection, third-year right fielder Brady Groves deposited his first home run of the season over the wall in left center. It was the fourth home run of Groves's career.

In the nightcap, second-year third baseman and pitcher Sam Labrecque rocketed his first career home run just over the wall in left field.

"It felt great in the moment," Labrecque remarked on the feeling of his first home run. "To see your boys waiting for you as you get back to the dugout is pretty cool. I wish we could've had more success this weekend, but I was very happy with the energy we showed as a team. I'm optimistic going forward."

After a hitless opening day, Labrecque made sure to refine his approach going into the at-bat. 

"Over the weekend, I had been chasing pitches down and struggling," Labrecque said. "In that at bat, I was trying to look for something up, and I saw a hanging breaking ball at the belt and got it."

After falling behind 9-0 after the first inning in game one, the Yeomen battled back to make it a contest before eventually falling 15-9. 

Third-year right-hander Davis Hayes was called upon in relief in the bottom half of the first. The Asheville, NC, native was able to steady the ship, providing 5.1 innings of stellar relief. Hayes scattered five hits and only surrendered two runs (one earned) while striking out three.

"Every time I take the mound, I'm just there to do one job: give the guys a chance," Hayes said regarding his outing. "Longevity out of the pen is easy when you're playing for something bigger than yourself; the innings just start to fly by."

First-years Shane McKenna and Shido Bao made their debuts on the mound in the loss.

Groves led the way offensively, finishing game one 3-6 with the aforementioned home run and three RBIs. 

Second-year catcher Daniel Krabill and second-year left fielder Daniel Devapalan provided two hits apiece in the loss.

In game two, first-year pitcher Matthew Harris got the nod on the mound. The righty delivered five innings of three-run ball (two earned), allowing seven hits and striking out one. 

"I was pretty nervous at the start, but after the first couple of pitches it felt like a normal game," Harris said after his first career outing. "I really focused on getting ahead of hitters early and trusting the defense to make plays and get us back in the dugout."

The Yeomen jumped out to an early lead in a back-and-forth battle. In the top of the first, Labrecque laced an RBI single down the left field line to score third-year first baseman Kyle Baxt. 

The University of the South quickly responded and took a 6-2 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. 

In the eighth, Baxt ripped a two-RBI double into the right-center gap, scoring Groves and first-year center fielder Patrick Leonard to cut Sewanee's lead to two.

Then in the ninth, with the score still 6-4 and the Yeomen down to their last out, second-year shortstop You-Fu Chen reached on an error, scoring Krabill from first to make it a 6-5 game. 

Leonard and Groves then walked to load the bases for Baxt. On the first pitch of the at-bat, a slider hit Baxt's elbow to tie the game at six.

In the bottom half, third-year reliever Micah Rodriguez took the mound for his third inning of work. The Simi Valley, CA native set Sewanee down in order to knot the score at six after nine innings of play. 

The game was called a tie due to darkness.

Rodriguez's final line closed after three innings of one-hit ball, where he struck out three. 

The Yeomen are back in action this Saturday, February 28, in Wilmore, Kentucky, for a doubleheader with Asbury. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12 p.m.

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