In its first action in Ohio this season, the Kenyon softball team dropped a doubleheader to John Carroll University on Sunday. Despite strong offensive production, the Owls were unable to earn a win.

After extreme weather forced Kenyon to postpone its Saturday doubleheader against Capital University, the Owls got back on the field the next day against the Blue Streaks. Because of extreme weather (see “Kenyon’s campus goes dark”), the two teams played at Case Western Reserve University’s Mather Park, where the Blue Streaks were the home team. 

John Carroll opened the scoring in game one, capitalizing on strong base running and small-ball hitting to score three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Despite those early troubles, pitcher Amanda Harris ’25 settled in the rest of the way, keeping John Carroll off the board and allowing only four more baserunners. Kenyon picked up a run in the second inning with an RBI groundout, then added another run in the fifth. The Owls threatened throughout, out-hitting the Blue Streaks 8-5, but they dropped the first game 3-2.

John Carroll drew first blood in the second game, picking up a 1-0 lead with a first-inning sacrifice fly. Kenyon got some instant offense in the third inning, as Maddie Friday ’24 hit her second home run of the season to tie the game at one run apiece. However, in the home half of the inning, the Blue Streaks took the lead thanks to a series of Owls miscues. After Kenyon recorded the first out, a John Carroll baserunner advanced to third and scored after a throwing error. The Blue Streaks added another run on a passed ball to take a 3-1 lead. John Carroll then added three more runs in the fifth inning. Though the Owls chipped away in the sixth inning, scoring two runs, Kenyon fell 6-3.

Natalya Delsante ’25, who had three hits on Sunday, saw the team making progress against John Carroll. “We saw a glimmer of the potential that our offense holds,” she wrote in an email to the Collegian. “Our next step offensively is being RBI-oriented and hitting situationally. Working the counts and putting consistent pressure on the defense will be crucial to our future offensive successes.”

With a record of 1-17, Kenyon opens NCAC play with a pair of road games against Oberlin College on Saturday. Delsante believes that the Owls hold the keys to their success against the Yeowomen. “We can work to find success against Oberlin by focusing on the controllables,” she said. “Softball is inherently a game of failure, but by working to support each other at every opportunity, whether that be verbal or physical, hopefully we can push through to a dub.”