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Oberlin College Athletics

Sam Labrecque getting ready at bat
Melissa Silva '27
14
Winner John Carroll JOHN CAR 19-9
3
Oberlin OBERLIN 13-17-1
Winner
John Carroll JOHN CAR
19-9
14
Final
3
Oberlin OBERLIN
13-17-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
John Carroll JOHN CAR 1 0 1 0 5 1 6 14 12 0
Oberlin OBERLIN 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 6 0

W: Michael Perry (3-0) L: Ruttkay, Matthew (3-3)

6
John Carroll JOHN CAR 19-10
7
Winner Oberlin OBERLIN 14-17-1
John Carroll JOHN CAR
19-10
6
Final
7
Oberlin OBERLIN
14-17-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
John Carroll JOHN CAR 0 0 4 0 0 1 0 1 0 6 6 0
Oberlin OBERLIN 0 0 0 1 0 5 1 0 X 7 9 4

W: Serrano, Santiago (1-0) L: Austin Miller (4-2) S: Bryant, Jameson (2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Breaks Losing Streak Against Blue Streaks

By Micah Rodriguez '27

Oberlin, Ohio – In the Oberlin College baseball team's first North Coast Athletic Conference matchup with John Carroll, the Yeomen fell in game one 14–3, before prevailing in the nightcap 7–6, powered by second-year infielder Sam Labrecque's sixth-inning grand slam. The game two win ended a nine-game losing streak for the Yeomen. 

Game one was a back-and-forth battle heading into the middle innings. Second-year pitcher Matthew Ruttkay held the Blue Streaks at bay through the first four innings. The right-hander was forced out of the game in the fifth, his final line sat at 4.1 innings, surrendering six runs (five earned) while striking out three.

The Yeomen took a 3–2 lead heading into the top of the fifth. Labrecque knocked a two-out, two-RBI single up the middle to score fourth-year catcher Anton Shelton and first-year third baseman Robbie Lynn.

Unfortunately, from there it was all Blue Streaks. John Carroll scored five runs in the fifth inning, one in the sixth, and six in the seventh to run-rule the Yeomen in seven innings. 

First-year center fielder Patrick Leonard recorded a multi-hit game for the Yeomen with his ninth double of the season. 

Second-year designated hitter Daniel Krabill also notched his first triple of the season in the game one defeat.

In game two, John Carroll continued to feed off their game one momentum early on, holding a 3–0 lead through the first three innings.

The Yeomen got on the board in the fourth inning when Krabill ripped a backside single to left field, scoring third-year first baseman Kyle Baxt from first to make it a 3–1 contest. 

The Blue Streaks added one run back in the top of the sixth to make it a 4–1 ballgame heading into the bottom half of the inning. 

With the two outs and the bases loaded, Shelton drew a five-pitch walk. Baxt scored from third to make it a 4–2 game. 

The Blue Streaks make a pitching change with Labrecque looming at the plate. On a 1–0 pitch, Labrecque delivered one of the biggest swings of the season for the Yeomen. The Yardley, Pennsylvania, native crushed a grand slam over the left field hedges just inside the foul pole to put the Yeomen up 6–4, and send Dill Field into a frenzy. It was Labrecque's third home run of the season and the first grand slam of his career.

"My first instinct was fear that it was gonna go foul," Labrecque said. "If you watch the video, you can see me do a little hand wave up the first baseline to try and wave the ball fair."

In the midst of a nine-game skid, a three-run deficit felt almost insurmountable. 

"I think anyone on our team can admit that our energy as a team was dead," Labrecque said. "Personally, mine definitely was. I was struggling badly up to this point. So to see a pop from the dugout after it happened was incredible. It was a turning point, not just because of the score, but for the enthusiasm it was able to induce out of me and the team."

The Yeomen added another run in the seventh inning. Lynn lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Leonard from third to push the lead to three, 7–4.

The Blue Streaks clawed back to within one run with nobody out in the ninth inning. First-year right-hander Jameson Bryant came out and shut the door for the Yeomen. 

The Cape Elizabeth, Maine native rolled back-to-back ground balls to third to send fans at Dill Field home happy as the Yeomen ended the day with a split after holding on to take game two 7–6. 

Oberlin is now 14–17–1 on the season, 3–7 in NCAC play. The Yeomen are back in action tomorrow, Thursday, April 23, at Dill Field against Hiram. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
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