Point Lookout, MO – Returning to the diamond for another weekend series, the Bobcats welcomed the Southwestern Christian University Eagles from Bethany, Oklahoma. With weather once again being a consideration, the games were moved back a day to a Thursday start, from the original schedule of Friday/Saturday.

Game 1 – Thursday, February 15
On a beautiful February day, with temperatures in the 50’s, the Bobcats sent Weston Whiteside to the bump. The Eagles wasted little time taking advantage of the bright sunlight. With the difficulty seeing the ball off the bat, the Eagles used a Bobcat miscue, an intentional walk, a pair of doubles and a single to score three runs and take the early 3-0 lead. The Bobcats came up and were determined not to be outdone. A trio of free passes to Caleb Johnson, Spencer Greene, and Rhett Hill gave the Cats a good start. A two-RBI double off the bat of Ty Rush made the walks costly and the Bobcats had something going with one out. A Hunter Lewis single drove home another pair of runs and the bobcats took a 4-3 lead. Logan Daniels kept the line moving and drove in Lewis for another tally and the Bobcats took a 5-3 lead to the second. Whiteside held the Eagles in check in the second and the Bobcats came up looking to add to their lead. An Eagle error put Jake Leeker aboard and Chuck Hill followed with a bunt single. A sacrifice by Caleb Johnson advanced the runners and Spencer Greene delivered a two RBI double to left center. Rhett Hill smacked a single to left and a pick off put Hill in a run-down. Hill stayed in the rundown long enough for Greene to score from third and the Bobcat lead grew to 8-3. The next batter was retired, and the game moved to the third. Whiteside cruised through the third and the Bobcats added a Hunter Lewis single, and a Jake Leeker double in the third, but could not bring them across the plate. Whiteside eliminated a leadoff single with a double play and faced the minimum in the fourth and pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the fifth. The Bobcats went down in order in their half of the fourth and threatened in the fifth with a Hunter Lewis single. Jake Leeker pounded an RBI double that bounced over the right-center field wall and the Bobcat lead was 9-3 heading to the sixth. Whiteside pitched around a single in the top half and the Bobcats came back to the plate. The Bobcats went down in order and Whiteside went back to the mound to go for the complete game. Due to his pitch count, it would have to be a quick inning for him to finish the game, but the coaching staff wanted to give him the opportunity to finish it off. A fly ball to right got him one out closer, but a pair of singles and a hit by pitch was mixed in with another flyball out and Brody Baumann came on to pitch in relief. Baumann threw a four-pitch strikeout, and the Cats took game one, 9-3.

Hunter Lewis pounded out three hits and Jake Leeker (2B, 2B) added two hits in the win. Spencer Greene (2B), Chuck Hill, Rhett Hill, Ty Rush (2B), and Logan Daniels each tacked on a hit in the win.

Game 2 – Thursday, February 15
Rhett Hill stepped on the mound for the Bobcats in game two and pitched around a pair of singles in the opening frame. Chuck Hill led off with a single in the bottom of the first and advanced to third, but the Bobcats couldn’t push him across. The Eagles were set down in order in the second and a Hunter Lewis walk was followed by a fielder’s choice for Trey Riley, that forced out Lewis at second. A double off the bat of Charlie Parker moved Riley to third and he scored when the left fielder bobbled the ball. The Bobcats were unable to create more offense, but they held a 1-0 lead going to the third. The Eagles responded with a run of their own to tie it in the top of the third and the Bobcats came back to the plate. A Caleb Johnson walk was all the offense for the Bobcats in the bottom of the third and the game moved to the fourth. The pitcher’s duel continued and aside from a two out walk issued to Trey Riley, neither team could generate offence in the fourth. The Eagles threatened in the top of the fifth with a pair of one out singles, and a walk, and Brody Baumann was called in from the bullpen. A walk, a pair of Bobcat miscues, and a single opened the flood gates and the when the dust settled, the Eagles added six runs and held a 7-1 lead. The Bobcats went down in order in the bottom of the inning and Baumann returned the favor for the Eagles in the top of the sixth with a flyout and a pair of strikeouts. The Bobcats could only muster a Rhett Hill single in the bottom of the sixth and time was running out. Baumann held the Eagles down in the seventh and the Bobcats came to the plate, down to their final three outs. A Trey Riley single gave the Bobcats some life to open the inning, and a walk to Charlie Parker put two on with nobody out. Jake Leeker smacked a single into right and the Bobcats had the bases loaded. Caleb Johnson drew a one out walk and the Bobcats picked up a run to cut the deficit. A Rhett Hill infield single added another tally but that was all the Bobcats could get and the Eagles took game two 7-3.

Chuck Hill, Rhett Hill, Trey Riley, Jake Leeker, and Charlie Parker (2B) each had a hit in the Bobcat effort.

The games for Friday were canceled due to the incoming weather. The teams will attempt to reschedule at a later date.