Friday, February 13 - Game 1

College of the Ozarks’ Early Lead Falls Short in 8-5 Loss to Northwestern

College of the Ozarks jumped out to a fast start but couldn’t hold an early three-run advantage, falling 8-5 to Northwestern Friday afternoon in a neutral-site matchup at Chase Stadium. The Bobcats led 3-0 after the first inning and remained within striking distance in the sixth before a two-run homer by Northwestern’s Devin Dirkx provided the decisive insurance.

The Bobcats wasted no time putting pressure on Northwestern in the opener. Landon Jines was hit by a pitch, and a walk loaded the bases, setting up Brody Baumann’s RBI groundout for the first run. With two outs, Broden Mabe delivered a clutch two-run single, extending the lead to 3-0 before Northwestern even stepped to the plate.

Northwestern responded immediately in the bottom of the second, erupting for four runs to take control. Kevin Rubio singled in the first run, followed by B. Ayers’ RBI single to trim the deficit. Moments later, Bryce Click doubled in two more, flipping the scoreboard to a 4-3 Northwestern lead—the first of several swings the Bobcats would have to chase. College of the Ozarks narrowed the gap in the third when Mabe singled in another run, but Rubio answered in the bottom half with an RBI single to restore Northwestern’s edge at 5-4.

The Wildcats added another run in the fifth on an RBI double from Nikolai Wede, pushing their lead to 6-4. The Bobcats’ offense continued to fight, finishing with seven hits and benefiting from three hit batters and two walks, but stranded six runners and couldn’t break through against a Northwestern pitching staff that did not commit an error. Meanwhile, College of the Ozarks was charged with three errors, which extended innings and added traffic on the bases.

College of the Ozarks made one more push in the sixth. Brody Tyler launched a solo home run, pulling the Bobcats within 6-5 and sparking a late rally. Tyler finished the game with one hit, one RBI, and one run scored, while Mabe led the offense, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a stolen base, driving in four of the team’s five runs between his first-inning single and third-inning knock.

Northwestern quickly extinguished the threat in the bottom of the sixth. After a baserunner reached, Dirkx crushed a two-run homer to right, stretching the advantage to 8-5 and effectively ending College of the Ozarks’ comeback hopes. The Bobcats’ pitchers worked six innings, striking out five on 93 pitches while allowing eight earned runs on nine hits and five walks.

The Bobcats went quietly in the seventh as Northwestern closed out the win without needing to bat. Despite the loss, College of the Ozarks displayed early offensive potential and timely hitting from Mabe and Tyler, giving the team a foundation to build on as they continue their early-season slate.

Friday, February 13 - Game 2

Baumann, Early Offense Lift College of the Ozarks Over Graceland 5-4

Despite a late rally by the Yellowjackets, the Bobcats secured the road victory with timely hitting, smart baserunning, and clutch pitching.

The Bobcats set the tone immediately in the top of the first inning. Leadoff threat Landon Jines drew a walk, advanced to third on a passed ball, and then stole home to give College of the Ozarks a 1-0 lead. That aggressive approach on the basepaths carried throughout the contest, as the Bobcats finished with five stolen bases, consistently pressuring Graceland’s defense.

College of the Ozarks appeared in command in the fourth inning with a four-run outburst. Brody Tyler opened the scoring with an RBI single, followed by a two-run single from Jines to extend the lead to 4-0. Ty Rush added another RBI single later in the frame, giving the Bobcats a 5-0 advantage. Despite collecting just six hits overall, College of the Ozarks capitalized on every opportunity, leaving only three runners on base and taking advantage of two Graceland errors.

Baumann kept that lead intact for most of his six-inning start. The College of the Ozarks right-hander worked efficiently, allowing six hits but limiting damage with four strikeouts and just one walk over 110 pitches. Graceland finally broke through in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Carson Chiprez, who drove in Drake Matney to cut the deficit to 5-1.

The Yellowjackets mounted their most serious threat in the sixth. I. Martinez singled and drove in two runs to pull Graceland within 5-3, and Darius Sparks followed with an RBI single that made it a one-run game at 5-4. Martinez and Sparks combined for three hits, three RBIs, and two stolen bases, shifting momentum toward the home team as the late innings approached.

College of the Ozarks turned to reliever Dale Anderson to preserve the slim lead in the seventh. Anderson delivered a scoreless inning, shutting down Graceland’s comeback bid and earning the save to complement Baumann’s victory. The Bobcats’ pitching staff combined for 120 pitches, 75 strikes, and just one walk, navigating the late-inning pressure with poise.

Jines spearheaded the Bobcats’ offense, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, a walk, two stolen bases, and two runs scored—highlighted by his first-inning steal of home and key fourth-inning single. With the 5-4 win in front of an announced crowd of 40, College of the Ozarks opened its day at Chase Stadium showcasing opportunistic offense, aggressive baserunning, and pitching sturdy enough to withstand Graceland’s late surge.

Saturday, February 14 - Game 1

Jennings’ Two-Hit Shutout, Late Rally Lift College of the Ozarks Over Northwestern, 4-0

LAMONI, Iowa — College of the Ozarks relied on a dominant complete-game shutout from right-hander Cameron Jennings and a three-run sixth inning to blank Northwestern 4-0 in a seven-inning contest Saturday at Chase Stadium.

Jennings set the tone for the Bobcats, allowing just two hits over seven innings while striking out six and walking two. Despite a pair of defensive miscues, Jennings worked efficiently, facing minimal trouble as Northwestern stranded five runners and never advanced one home.

The Bobcats struck first in the third inning. With one out, Landon Jines reached base and later scored on a double from Ty Rush, giving College of the Ozarks a 1-0 lead. Jennings kept the momentum on the mound, needing just 90 team pitches to retire hitters efficiently through the early frames.

College of the Ozarks broke the game open in the sixth inning. Jines started the frame with a hit-by-pitch, and an error by Northwestern’s L Greth helped set the stage. Craig Busse’s sacrifice fly brought in Jines, and moments later, Aaron Fisher delivered a two-run single to extend the lead to 4-0, effectively putting the game out of reach.

Offensively, the Bobcats collected seven hits and maximized their opportunities, leaving just three runners on base. Rush finished with two hits, including the RBI double that opened the scoring, while Brody Tyler also added two hits, including a double. Fisher went 1-for-3 with two RBIs to lead the late surge.

Northwestern struggled against Jennings’ precise pitching. Starter Devin Dirkx worked five innings, allowing one run on four hits, while Greth yielded all three sixth-inning runs on three hits, one walk, and a hit batter.

The victory showcased College of the Ozarks’ combination of timely hitting and standout pitching, giving the Bobcats control from the third inning on and building early-season momentum behind Jennings’ two-hit shutout and a clutch offensive rally.

Saturday, Febraury 14 - Game 2

Late Rally Lifts Graceland Over College of the Ozarks, 5-4

LAMONI, Iowa — College of the Ozarks’ early offense and a dominant outing from right-hander George Reynolds fell just short Saturday afternoon, as the Bobcats dropped a tight 5-4 decision on the road against Graceland.

The Bobcats built a 3-0 lead by the fourth inning and carried a 4-2 advantage into the seventh, thanks in large part to Reynolds’ 11-strikeout performance. But Graceland mounted a furious comeback, tying the game in the seventh and delivering the decisive blow in the eighth on Drake Matney’s RBI single, handing College of the Ozarks a narrow loss despite a clean defensive effort and a seven-hit attack.

College of the Ozarks struck first in the third inning when Alex Nimmo singled and later scored, giving the Bobcats a 1-0 lead. The offense added momentum in the fourth, with Brody Tyler’s run-scoring double followed by an RBI double from Aaron Fisher to push the lead to 3-0, giving Reynolds early run support to work with.

Reynolds was masterful through seven innings, striking out 11 while allowing six hits and four walks on 126 pitches. He kept Graceland off the scoreboard until the fourth, when Gabriel Perez delivered a two-RBI single to cut the Bobcats’ lead to 3-2. Reynolds settled in afterward, holding the advantage into the late frames.

College of the Ozarks added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Fisher, who led the team with a 2-for-3 performance that included two doubles and an RBI, reached base again and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Landon Jines to restore a 4-2 cushion. The Bobcats finished with seven hits, including three doubles, stole three bases, hit two batters, and played error-free behind the pitching staff.

Graceland, however, answered immediately in the bottom of the seventh. The Yellowjackets tied the game with a two-run single from Rafael Calcano and then took the lead in the eighth on Matney’s run-scoring single. Reliever Juan Guzman shut the door in the ninth to secure the win for Graceland, who matched the Bobcats with seven hits while applying late pressure with five stolen bases and four walks.

College of the Ozarks left four runners on base and struck out 12 times, but the game featured plenty of bright spots. Fisher’s power, Jines’ timely situational hitting, and Reynolds’ standout start provide momentum as the Bobcats aim to turn close road losses into victories in the weeks ahead.