C of O Opens NCCAA Regional Tournament Play with Win

The College of the Ozarks Baseball Bobcats opened play in the 2022 NCCAA NDAG Regional Tournament at home Monday in the final game of the day against Dallas Christian College.

Story from College of the Ozarks Sports Information with first two tournament results and schedule to follow:

In unfamiliar territory, the Bobcats were the visitors on the scoreboard due to DCC winning the coin flip.

Ryan Daggs started the offense drawing a one out walk and Spencer Greene followed with a double to right center. A pop out to center put two outs on the board. Rhett Hill came up and promptly launched a three-run bomb over the left field fence to give the Bobcats the early lead. Titus Atkins and Cadan Kauffmann kept the inning going with back to back singles and a Trey Riley single drove them in.  A fly ball out ended the inning but not before the Bobcats hung a five spot on the board. Rhett Hill made his way to the mound for the Bobcats and pitched around a two out double to keep the Crusaders scoreless.

The Bobcats went back to work with the bats in the second when Chuck Hill reached on an error and Ryan Daggs drilled a deep flyball over the left field fence for a two-run homer. Spencer Greene followed with a single and Caleb Johnson walked. Two more walks to Rhett Hill and Titus Atkins scored a run with bases loaded and a fielder’s choice added another. A Trey Riley sacrifice fly scored another run and the Bobcat lead was 10-0 heading to the bottom of the second. The Crusaders managed a two out homerun to get on the scoreboard, but Hill induced an inning ending ground ball to bring the Bobcats back to the plate.

The Bobcats were held in check in the third and Hill pitched out of a jam in the bottom half, with back to back strikeouts. Leaving runners stranded at second and third the Bobcats came up looking to add to their lead. Trey Riley reached on a fielder’s choice and with two outs, and it looked as though it would be a quick inning. An Isaiah Smith triple scored Riley however, and the Bobcats were not finished. Chuck Hill reached on an error to score Smith and Ryan Daggs singled to drive in Hill. A Spencer Greene line drive over the left field fence made the score 15-1 heading to the bottom of the fourth.

The Crusaders picked up a run in the fourth with a double and a single, but Hill slammed the door shut with a double play. Rhett Hill then lead off with a single and his courtesy runner moved to third on a pair of wild pitches. A Titus Atkins groundout scored a run and the Bobcats took a 16-2 lead to the bottom of the fifth. The Crusaders put together a pair of singles and a double to add two runs to their total, but Hill continued to cruise and limited the damage with a ground out to first. Ryan Daggs reached on an infield single with one out to start the sixth inning offense and Spencer Greene ripped a single to left. Zane Kelley walked, and Rhett Hill picked up an RBI with a walk of his own to force a pitching change. Titus Atkins grounded out to second to score another run and Cadan Kauffman was hit by a pitch to load the bases again. A line out to second ended the Bobcat half and the score was 19-4 heading to the bottom of the sixth. Neither team would generate offense in the seventh and the Bobcats took the game 19-4. 

Rhett Hill went the distance on the mound for the win and contributed a homerun and four RBIs at the plate. Spencer Greene went 4-5 at the plate with a homerun, four runs scored, and a pair of RBIs. Ryan Daggs connected for three hits with a homerun, four runs scored, and three RBIs and Trey Riley contributed two hits and four RBIs. Titus Atkins, Cadan Kauffman, and Isaiah Smith added one hit each. 

The Bobcats will be in action again this afternoon against Randall University at 4 PM at Coach Bob Smith Field. 

Day One Tournament Results:
Kansas Christian 10 Baptist Bible College 5
Arlington Baptist 13 Ecclesia College 5
Randall University 10 Champion Christian College 9
College of the Ozarks 19 Dallas Christian 4

Day Two Schedule (Games Both at C of O and US Bank Ballpark in Ozark)
Ecclesia vs. BBC 9:00 am (US Ballpark)
Champion Christian vs. Dallas Christian 10:00 am (C of O)
Kansas Christian vs. Arlington Baptist 1:00 pm (C of O)
C of O vs. Randall University 4:00 pm (C of O)
Champion Christian/Dallas Christian Winner vs. Kansas Christian/Arlington Baptist Loser 6:00 pm (US Ballpark)
Ecclesia/BBC Winner vs. C of O/Randall Loser 7:00 pm (C of O)