Bobcat Baseball Stays Hot

The College of the Ozarks Baseball Bobcats have been on fire as of late thanks to solid pitching and the bats to back it up. The Bobcats have won 10 of their last 12 games including series sweeps over Champion Christian College and Randall University. The Bobcat pitching staff has turned in multiple complete game performances and the offense has exploded for double digit scoring several times along the way. The Bobcats are coming off a four-game series sweep last weekend at Randall University in Moore, Oklahoma, where the Bobcats outscored their opponents 41-14 and posted complete game pitching performances by Isaiah Smith and Spencer Greene.

College of the Ozarks vs Randall University – Game 1

The Bobcats jumped on top early putting a run on the board in the top of the third inning of the series opener. The Saints struggled to make plays in the inning and the Bobcats capitalized, scoring Chuck Hill to give the Cats the 1-0 lead. Tyler Buchanan kept the Saints off balance at the plate and posted zeros on the board through the early innings. The Bobcats added to their lead in the fourth inning with a Cadan Kauffman single, a pair of walks to Chandler Tidwell and Blake Hultgren, and a hit by pitch issued to Isaiah Smith. A Chuck Hill single kept things moving and the Bobcats scored three in the frame to go up 4-0. A Caleb Johnson double to lead off the fifth gave the Bobcats a chance to add to the lead. A ground ball out moved Johnson to third and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Cadan Kauffman added a run to make the score 5-0. The Saints came to life in the bottom of the fifth and pushed four runs across to make it a 5-4 game heading into the late innings. The Bobcats stepped up in the sixth looking to add some insurance to their slim lead. A Blake Hultgren walk started the frame and a one-out Chuck Hill triple added a much-needed run. Ryan Daggs picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly to score Hill and the Bobcat lead was up to 7-4. Spencer Green walked and Caleb Johnson singled but the Bobcats could not manage any more runs in the inning. Buchanan gave up a run in the sixth and gave way to Colin Pyatt who came on in relief.  Pyatt shut the door on the Saints offense and the Bobcats held a 7-5 lead entering the seventh. The Bobcats went quietly in the seventh and Ryan Daggs came on to pitch for the save. The Saints theatened with a pair of runners in the seventh but Daggs buckled down and secured the final three outs for the save and the 7-5 win.

Tyler Buchanan recorded the win going five innings and allowing five runs on seven hits. The Bobcat offense was led by Caleb Johnson, Chuck Hill, and Cadan Kauffman each with a pair of hits. Johnson drove in one run, Chuck Hill added two RBI’s and Isaiah Smith, Cadan Kauffman, Spencer Greene, and Ryan Daggs each recorded an RBI.

College of the Ozarks vs Randall University – Game 2

Riley Loyd was set for the game two start on the mound and the Bobcats looked to keep things rolling. Keeping the pressure on the Saints, Chuck Hill reached on an error and Ryan Daggs promptly ripped a double to deep center to put the Bobcats on the board. Daggs then stole third and scored on a Spencer Greene ground ball to third. That’s all the offense the Bobcats could muster but a 2-0 lead had them off to a good start. The Saints responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning and the Bobcats took a 2-1 lead into the second. Neither team could produce any offense in the second and the Bobcats were headed to the plate in the third, up 2-1. Spencer Greene started things off with a one out single to right and Caleb Johnson followed with a single of his own. Trey Riley made it three in a row and the bases were loaded. A fielder’s choice allowed Greene to score and an error brought in Trey Riley. Titus Atkins picked up a single and an RBI and the Bobcat lead was up to 5-1. Loyd hit a bit of a speed bump in the bottom of the third when a hit and a couple of Bobcat miscues allowed the Saints to climb back into contention. The Bobcats lead was back to a single run, 5-4 heading to the fourth. The Bobcats were intent on keeping the pressure on the Saints and an Isaiah Smith walk and stolen base put them back into scoring position. Smith stole third to move 90 feet away from another Bobcat run and Ryan Daggs added to his weekend RBI total with a sacrifice fly to right. That was all the Bobcats could put on the board and the lead was 6-4. Loyd took care of business in the bottom of the inning and the Bobcats came to the plate holding a two-run lead. Caleb Johnson ripped a triple to center to start the inning and a Trey Riley ground out gave the Bobcats another run. Cadan Kauffman singled but that was all the Bobcats would get.  Colin Pyatt came on to pitch the bottom of the fifth and had a three-run cushion to work with. Pyatt faced the minimum in the inning and the Bobcats were anxious to get the bats going again. Isaiah Smith walked to start the sixth inning and swiped second and third to set up another run possibility. Daggs continued his torrid pace, ripping a two-run blast over the center field fence. Spencer Green kept the line moving with a walk and Caleb Johnson moved him along with a single to left. Cadan Kauffman followed with a two RBI double and the Bobcat lead was 11-4. The Saints tacked on a run in the bottom half of the inning and another in the bottom of the seventh but Pyatt shut them down for the save and the 11-6 Bobcat win.

Loyd picked up the win for the Bobcats and the offense was led by Ryan Daggs’ two hits and four RBI’s.  Caleb Johnson went three for four and Cadan Kauffman had a pair of hits and three RBI’s. Titus Atkins, Isaiah Smith, Spencer Greene and Trey Riley each added a hit in the winning effort.

College of the Ozarks vs Randall University – Game 3

Isaiah Smith went to the hill for the Bobcats in game three and the Bobcats had another sweep in mind. A Caleb Johnson single was all the offense in the first inning and Smith took care of the home team as well. The Bobcat bats were again silent in the second and Randall took their first lead of the series, 1-0, in the bottom of the second. The Bobcats answered in the top of the third with Blake Hultgren reaching on an infield single and stealing second. Hultgren moved to third on a ground ball out. Ryan Daggs continued his RBI onslaught with a sacrifice fly to score Hultgren and get the Bobcats on the board. The Saints apparently enjoyed their taste of having a lead as they pushed another run across in the third to go back on top, 2-1. The Bobcats were not fond of the situation, however, and threatened to score in the top of the fourth. Titus Atkins ripped a triple to deep right field and Chandler Tidwell singled to score Atkins. The Bobcats had the score knotted at 2-2. That was all the Bobcats could come up with and the pressure was all on the Saints. Smith continued to keep the Saints offense in check and the game moved to the top of the fifth tied 2-2. The Bobcats were hungry for more runs and it didn’t take long for them to make their presence known again. Daggs led off with a triple to deep left center and scored on a Caleb Johnson single. Riley followed with a single and he and Johnson executed a double steal on the next pitch. With runners now at second and third, Cadan Kauffman intensified the pressure with an RBI single to drive in Johnson and Riley. The Bobcat lead was up to 5-2. Titus Atkins greeted a new Saints pitcher with a single, moving Kauffman to third. Atkins stole second and Chandler Tidwell busted through with a double to right. Kauffman and Atkins scored to make it 7-2, Bobcats. The Bobcats were not finished piling on in the fifth. Blake Hultgren was hit by a pitch and Chuck Hill reached when Hultgren was forced out at second. With a base open, the Saints opted to pitch to Ryan Daggs and he promptly made them pay. A three-run bomb over the left field fence broke the game wide open and capped an eight run fifth. The game moved to the bottom of the fifth, 10-2 Bobcats. Smith, now pitching with a comfortable lead, challenged the Saints’ hitters and they were unable to answer. Neither team would produce much offense to close out the game and Smith went the distance for the Bobcat win.

Ryan Daggs did it again, driving in four runs and scoring a pair to go with his two hits, including a homerun. Caleb Johnson posted another multi-hit game as did Titus Atkins, Trey Riley, and Chandler Tidwell. Chuck Hill, Blake Hultgren, Cadan Kauffman, and Spencer Greene each added a hit in the win.

College of the Ozarks vs Randall University – Game 4

With a four-game sweep within reach, the Bobcats sent Spencer Greene to the mound in the finale. Setting the tone early in game four, the Bobcats erupted for five runs in the opening frame. Chuck Hill led off with a single and Ryan Daggs doubled to right. Spencer Greene reached on an error allowing Hill to score and the Bobcats were on the board. A Caleb Johnson double to left scored Daggs and the Bobcats were feelin’ it. Cadan Kauffman singled and scored Greene’s courtesy runner, Kyle Brattin, and the Bobcats were up 3-0. A ground out allowed Johnson to score and Kauffman scored on a Saints error to make it 5-0 after a half inning. Greene worked around a pair of hits in the bottom of the first and held the Saints scoreless. The Bobcats were greedy on offense and continued to attack in the second. A Smith walk followed by a Chuck Hill single put the Bobcats in position to do more damage. An error in the outfield on Hill’s single allowed Smith to come around and score and put Hill on third. Daggs strikes again with a single to score Hill and the Bobcat lead was 8-0. Johnson, Kauffman, and Zane Kelley singled after a runner was caught stealing, but that was all they could get, and the Bobcats would have to settle for just the three tallies. Greene struck out the side in the Saints half of the inning and the Bobcats came up empty in the top of the third. Another three up, three down inning and Greene had found his groove. The Bobcats added another run in the fourth when Spencer Greene singled and Caleb Johnson doubled to move him to third. Zane Kelley drove in Greene and the Bobcats were up 9-0 headed to the bottom of the fourth. The Saints broke through in the fourth to get on the board, but one run was all they could push across. The Bobcats were not finished producing runs and the top of the fifth saw them add two more to their total. Blake Hultgren was hit by a pitch and Isaiah Smith walked to start the inning. Chuck Hill reached when Smith was out at second and Daggs was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Greene singled to left to bring in Hultgren and Hill and the lead was 11-1. The Bobcats were then retired, and the game moved to the bottom of the fifth. Greene was lights out on the mound as he sat the Saints down in order again in the fifth. The Bobcats capped off their scoring with another pair of runs in the sixth. Tidwell was hit by a pitch and Hultgren walked. A one out walk issued to Chuck Hill loaded the bases and Daggs produced yet another un with a sacrifice fly to center. Spencer Greene did his thing on offense as well, driving in another run with a single to left to cap off the Bobcat run total. The lead was up to 13-1 heading to the bottom of the sixth. Green continued his domination on the mound and retired the Saints in the sixth and seventh to secure the 13-1 complete game win.

Greene led the way on offense as well with three hits and four RBI’s and a run scored. Ryan Daggs completed his dominant weekend with two hits and two more RBI’s. Caleb Johnson added three hits and Chuck Hill chipped in another multi-hit game. Cadan Cauffman had a pair of hits and Blake Hultgren and Zane Kelley joined the hit parade as well. The Bobcats completed the four-game sweep in dominant fashion both on the mound and at the plate. 

The Bobcats will be in action at home, Tuesday, April 5 at 3:00 as they host William Woods University in a single nine inning contest.