After a 0–2 loss in the first of two games, the softball team responded with a convincing 9–3 victory over Allegheny College Wednesday, April 23. With the win, the Yeowomen set a school record, going 5–11 in North Coast Athletic Conference play.

“Winning that game allowed us to break the record for most conference wins in school history,” said Head Coach Mimi Mahon. “We actually knocked Allegheny out of the conference tournament with our win against them.”

After the low-scoring first game, the Yeowomen started out the second game strong, with four runs on six hits in the first inning.

“It was sweet after losing the first game to be able to bounce back and score so many runs in the second,” first-year Sami Mericle said.

First-year Grace Evans, senior Emily King, sophomore Jenny Hill and junior Jenny Goldsmith all scored in the first inning.

Evans continued the Yeowomen’s scoring spree in the fourth with a single to right field. Stolen bases by junior Katie Pieplow and sophomore Caroline Hamilton helped lead to runs for the Yeowomen.

“I helped keep the innings going for us by getting on base and allowing my fellow teammates to bring me across the plate,” Evans said.

She again contributed to the success of the team the following day when the Yeowomen took on the visiting Defiance College Yellow Jackets on senior day.

Just like the previous day, the Yeowomen dropped the first game by a score of 2–4, but came back to win the second 2–1.

In the first game of the evening, senior Melanie Budney held Defiance scoreless through the first five innings. Oberlin’s defense faltered in the sixth, however, as they made three errors. The Yellow Jackets capitalized, scoring four runs to take the lead for good.

Senior Kelsey Steiner got the Yeowomen on the board in the fourth inning by hitting a double to right center field, bringing Evans home.

Heading into the seventh, the Yeowomen were tied 1–1 with Defiance, but a double by junior Katie Pieplow scored sophomore Caroline Hamilton to give the team a walk-off victory.

After the busy week, the Yeowomen traveled to Olivet College on Sunday, April 27. The Yeowomen struggled, losing both games by a combined score of 24–2.

The lone bright spot for the team came in the first game, when Pieplow hit a solo home run to left field. The homer was Pieplow’s third of the season.

The team concluded their season on Wednesday with a double header against Ohio Christian University. The Yeowomen won both games in a convincing fashion, coming away with 7–0 and 8–0 victories.

The Yeowomen end their season with a record of 11–23 overall. Although they did not make it to the NCAC tournament, they maintained a positive view of the season. Their record is an improvement over last year’s 4–30 record, and the team’s 23 losses is a five year low. The team’s success is a direct product of players like Evans, Pieplow and King improving their games this season.

“It’s been a great year again as Pieplow and King have broken nearly every offensive record,” Coach Mahon said. ”Emily King also set the record for most wins on the mound and most career strikeouts.”