Kansas City, Mo. - College of the Ozarks saw its season end Monday with a 3-2 loss to Ohio Christian in an NCCAA World Series elimination game at UYA - McGuff Field in Kansas City, Missouri. The decisive moment came in the sixth inning, when Karson Runk drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Ryota Haga and give Ohio Christian the go-ahead run.

The Bobcats put themselves in position early, taking a 2-0 lead in the second. Chase Robertson opened the scoring when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Hunter Lewis followed by drawing a bases-loaded walk to bring home another run. College of the Ozarks created steady traffic throughout the day, finishing with six hits, six walks and five hit batters, but Ohio Christian starter Braden Williams repeatedly worked out of trouble and stranded runners at key moments.

Ohio Christian pulled even in the fourth on Stephen Larkins' two-run homer to left-center, a swing that tied the game at 2-2. Larkins finished 3 for 3 with two RBIs, while Haga added two hits and scored the run that proved to be the difference. The home side then used patience again in the sixth, loading the bases before Runk's walk pushed across the eventual winning run.

College of the Ozarks got solid production from several spots in the lineup. Brody Baumann went 2 for 3 and scored a run, Ty Rush collected two hits, Lewis drove in a run and reached base four times with a hit, two walks and a hit by pitch, and Robertson added an RBI with two walks. Even with those opportunities, the Bobcats were unable to find the tying run late and left 14 runners on base.

On the mound, Cameron Jennings gave the Bobcats a chance, working six innings and allowing three runs, only one earned, while striking out seven over 110 pitches. Ty Thatcher followed with two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out four. Williams went the distance for Ohio Christian, throwing a nine-inning complete game with 11 strikeouts while holding College of the Ozarks to two runs on six hits.

The loss closed the Bobcats' run in Kansas City and ended their season one run short of extending it. After building the early lead in an elimination setting, College of the Ozarks stayed within a swing all afternoon, but Ohio Christian's fourth-inning homer and sixth-inning bases-loaded walk were enough to decide the final 3-2 margin.

The game capped a Bobcat 31-28 season in Coach Neale Richardson's final season at the helm. Coach Richardson is set to retire after 42 successful years on the diamond and multiple accolades. Coach Richardson has made a lasting impact on Bobcat Baseball and we wish him well as he looks to spend more time with family and enjoy his hobbies of hunting and fishing.