Oberlin, Ohio - The Oberlin College softball team opened their home and conference season against Wooster on Sunday afternoon. Dropping the first game 8-0, the Crimson and Gold fought back in the second half of the twin bill, but ultimately fell 2-1.

In game one, Wooster took the early lead in the top of the first, scoring four runs on five hits. They were able to tack on the remaining four runs with two each in the third and fourth innings. Despite being down, Haley Carlson walked on five pitches in the bottom of the fourth inning to build Obie momentum. Pinch runner Wren Norris replaced the senior, and then notched her sixth stolen base of the season. However, the Crimson and Gold were unable to shake the Fighting Scots, coming up short 8-0 at the end of game one.

Senior Hailey Alspach started in the circle for game two and went all seven innings allowing two runs with four strikeouts and giving up one walk. Oberlin started its bats in the bottom of the first with Hannah O'Connor's single to right field, however, the Yeowomen were unable to capitalize on the opportunity and O'Connor was stranded on the bases. While hits were unable to fall in the bottom of the second, quality at bats continued with deep fly balls from Maya Means and Ava Soldo and a screaming line drive from Caroline Sniffen right to Wooster's third baseman. 

Alspach's pitching silenced the Fighting Scots through three innings on just two hits and forcing three left on base. Wooster took the one run lead in the top of the fourth on an RBI single, and loaded the bases following the hit. Unfazed, Alspach struck out two and caught a third on an interference call to leave the Fighting Scots stranded on base. 

The Crimson and Gold returned quickly in the bottom of the fifth with a four-bagger from Means, marking her fourth home run of the season. Soldo followed up with a hit, and saw Norris return as a pinch runner. Norris stole second, but she was unable to score after two more consecutive Oberlin outs. Down to the wire, Wooster reclaimed the lead in the top of the seventh after hitting an RBI single to left field.

Facing a must-score situation, Connor Fogarty got on base in the leadoff spot with a single to center field. Replaced by Audrey Beckerman, Sniffen then hit an infield single to put two Obies on base. Soldo came up empty at the plate in the next at-bat, just before Alexis Croatt came in to pinch hit. Down to the final out, Croatt hit the ball right to Wooster's third baseman who made the play at first to end the game.

With 97 stolen bases this season, the Crimson and Gold sit atop the college softball landscape at 5.39 stolen bases per game. Oberlin outranks all NCAA DI, DII, DIII, NJCAA, and NAIA opponents. 

Oberlin returns to Culhane Field for a conference double header next Saturday, April 4, against John Carroll. Game one will start at 1 p.m., with the second following at approximately 3 p.m.

Keep up with the Crimson and Gold on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, and watch every home game on the Oberlin Sports Network online or on Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire TV.