Game 1: Friday February  20

Bobcats Open SAC Three-Game Series with 10-6 Comeback Victory Over Science and Arts

College of the Ozarks used a late offensive surge to erase a pair of early deficits and defeat Science and Arts 10-6 on Friday afternoon at Bill Smith Ballpark in Chickasha, Oklahoma. The Bobcats broke open a 6-6 game with a four-run sixth inning, then tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh to cap a 12-hit performance in the road victory.

Science and Arts appeared in control early, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Connor Martin singled and later stole second to help set the tone, while Henry Garcia and Alfonso Camacho followed with RBI singles. Blake King added another run-scoring single later in the frame, and the hosts carried that 4-0 cushion into the second.

College of the Ozarks chipped away, starting in the second inning when Chase Robertson singled home Aaron Fisher, who had reached on an error, to make it 4-1. The Bobcats tightened the game further in the fourth, when Brody Tyler opened the inning with a double and both Fisher and Robertson delivered RBI singles to cut the deficit to 4-3. In the top of the fifth, Tyler struck again, driving another double into the gap to score Landon Jines and pull the Bobcats even at 4-4.

Science and Arts answered immediately in the bottom of the fifth, pushing across two runs to reclaim a 6-4 lead behind run-scoring hits from King and Martin. But that advantage was short-lived. In the decisive sixth, College of the Ozarks sent eight batters to the plate and turned the game around. After singles by Broden Mabe and Jines, Ty Rush reached on an error that brought in a run. Hunter Lewis followed with a two-run single, and Craig Busse added an RBI double to give the visitors their first lead of the day at 8-6.

The Bobcats kept the pressure on in the seventh. Mabe reached on an error and later came around to score, and Alex Nimmo lifted a sacrifice fly to extend the margin to 10-6. That was more than enough support for the College of the Ozarks pitching staff, which settled in after the rough first inning and held Science and Arts scoreless over the final two frames despite the hosts finishing with 13 hits and stranding 10 runners.

Robertson headlined the Bobcats’ attack, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs as College of the Ozarks finished with 10 runs on 12 hits and no errors. Tyler added two doubles and an RBI, while Jines chipped in two hits and scored twice. Mabe reached base twice and scored in each of the sixth and seventh-inning rallies. Science and Arts was led by King, who went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while starting pitcher Brian Ereu worked 5 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts but was tagged for eight runs (10 hits, one walk) in the loss.

College of the Ozarks left six runners on base compared with 10 for Science and Arts, capitalizing more efficiently on its opportunities and taking advantage of three Drovers errors. With an attendance of 119 and a game time of 2 hours, 34 minutes, the contest offered an early-season test of resilience, one the Bobcats answered by outscoring Science and Arts 9-2 over the final six innings to secure the comeback win.

Friday Game 2:

College of the Ozarks uses three sacrifice flies, Jennings’ quality start to top Science and Arts 5–3

CHICKASHA, Okla. — College of the Ozarks capitalized on timely sacrifice flies and a steady start from right-hander Cameron Jennings to defeat Science and Arts 5–3 in a seven-inning contest Friday evening at Bill Smith Ballpark.

The Bobcats led wire-to-wire, but the decisive stretch came in the fourth and seventh innings. Holding a 2–1 edge, College of the Ozarks pushed across two runs in the fourth on an error and a sacrifice fly to create needed separation, then added an insurance run in the seventh on another sacrifice fly from Chase Robertson to withstand a late Science and Arts push.

College of the Ozarks opened the scoring in the first inning without the benefit of a hit, using situational offense to move in front. After leadoff man Landon  Jines reached and advanced, Craig Busse lifted a sacrifice fly to bring him home for a 1–0 lead. Jines struck again in the second, driving a single up the middle to score Robertson and extend the advantage to 2–0.

Science and Arts cut the deficit in half in the third. Gabe Clyden doubled and later came around to score on an RBI groundout by Corey Morro to make it 2–1. The Bobcats answered in the fourth by turning traffic on the bases into two more runs. Singles by Aaron Fisher and Chase Robertson set the table, Broden  Mabe reached on an error that allowed Fisher to score, and Keegan Stone followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Robertson for a 4–1 cushion.

The Drovers continued to chip away, scoring single runs in the fifth and sixth. In the fifth, Connor Martin singled to right to drive in Braxton Givens and pull Science and Arts within 4–2. An inning later, Alfonso Camacho doubled and later scored on a wild pitch, trimming the margin to one at 4–3 and tightening pressure on the College of the Ozarks pitching staff.

Robertson provided breathing room in the seventh. With pinch-runner Lance Strahan aboard, Robertson delivered the team’s third sacrifice fly of the night to push the lead to 5–3. That proved enough for reliever Ty Thatcher, who handled the final inning to record the save and close out the win.

Jennings earned the victory with six innings of work, throwing 92 pitches while allowing five hits, three runs, three walks and striking out two. The Bobcats’ staff combined to hold Science and Arts to five hits and three earned runs over seven innings. Offensively, College of the Ozarks matched its five hits with five walks and two hit batters, leaving eight runners on base but converting key chances with three sacrifice flies.

Robertson paced the Bobcats’ attack, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI and a sacrifice fly. Jines added a hit, an RBI, a walk, a hit-by-pitch and a run scored from the top of the order. Science and Arts received multi-hit production from Martin, who finished with two hits, an RBI and two stolen bases, while Clyden added a double, a walk and a run. The Drovers were hurt by two errors and stranded four runners in the loss before a crowd of 108.

Saturday Game 1

College of the Ozarks Falls 12–2 at Science and Arts Despite Lewis’ Two-Run Double

A four-run first inning by Science and Arts put College of the Ozarks in an early hole it could not escape, as the Bobcats dropped a 12-2 decision at Bill Smith Ballpark in Chickasha, Oklahoma, on Saturday afternoon.

Science and Arts did most of its damage early, striking for four runs in the bottom of the first and never relinquishing control. The host team backed a strong six-inning outing from starter Tyson Noel with 11 hits and 10 walks drawn, steadily adding on with three runs in the third, one in the sixth and four more in the eighth to end the game in eight innings. College of the Ozarks managed six hits and a two-run third but was held scoreless over the final five frames.

The Bobcats faced immediate pressure in the opening inning. Science and Arts loaded up the offense in the first, punctuated by a two-RBI single to left from Brandon Latter as part of a four-run frame that staked the hosts to a 4-0 lead. College of the Ozarks briefly turned the momentum in the third, when Hunter Lewis drove a two-run double to left in the top half of the inning to cut the deficit to 4-2 and give the lineup a needed spark.

Science and Arts answered immediately in the bottom of the third to regain full control. Gabe Clyden delivered a two-run single to left, and a sacrifice fly from Connor Martin capped a three-run inning that pushed the lead back to 7-2. From there, the Bobcats’ offense struggled to generate sustained pressure, leaving six runners on base and drawing only two walks against a staff that largely stayed in the strike zone.

College of the Ozarks could not break through against Noel, who worked 6.0 innings and limited the Bobcats to five hits and two earned runs while striking out three. The right-hander allowed only the Lewis double to produce damage and turned the game over to a bullpen that finished off the final two innings. Science and Arts’ pitching staff combined to allow just two walks and six hits over eight innings.

Offensively, Science and Arts continued to add insurance. In the sixth, Alfonso Camacho doubled to left and later came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Derrick Morillo, extending the margin to 8-2. The hosts then broke the game open in the eighth, taking advantage of an error and a bases-loaded walk as part of a four-run inning that included a two-run single from Anthony Hampton, stretching the lead to 12-2.

Lewis led the Bobcats’ effort at the plate, finishing 1-for-4 with a two-run double that accounted for College of the Ozarks’ scoring. The Bobcats’ pitching staff covered 7.2 innings, allowing 11 hits and 10 walks with eight of the 12 runs earned. Despite the loss, the contest provided early-season experience against a Science and Arts lineup that applied pressure throughout and capitalized on free baserunners in front of their home crowd. The Bobcats looks to gain momentum going into their for SAC series at home next Friday and Saturday. Game will be at 1:00 and 3:00 Friday, February  27th and first pitch at 12:00 p.m. Saturday,