POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – The No. 7 Seed Dallas Christian College baseball team was edged by co-host and No. 2 Seed College of the Ozarks on Monday night in day one of the NDAG Baseball Regional.
 
Playing at Ozark's home field, even though they were the guests, the Bobcats put distance between themselves and the Crusaders early to advance in the winner's bracket. COTO improved to 28-20.
 
Dallas Christian must now win the rest of the way if it wants to make a run at the championship. DCC will play at 10 a.m. on Tuesday versus the No. 6 Seed Champion Christian College. The Tigers fell 10-9 on a walk-off to No. 3 Seed Randall University.
 
Rhett Hill had the first big blow with a three-run homer on a 3-0 pitch to left field in the first inning. The Bobcats would score five runs with two outs to jump out to a big lead.
 
DCC's leading home run hitter, Marcos Franjul, would charge a deep fly ball to left center field, but it was caught at the wall to keep the margin at five. Stefon Reyes, who went 2-for-3, had a hit in that frame.
 
The Bobcats got a two-run homer from Ryan Daggs in the second, as they scored five more runs to double the advantage.
 
DCC got a run back in the home second inning, as Joel Stone homered for the third time this campaign. The first baseman was the other multi-hit Crusader in the box score, but there was not much they could do to reduce separation at that juncture.
 
College of the Ozarks would score another five runs in the fourth and put this game away 19-4. DCC had a trio of doubles by Reyes, Franjul, and Josh Freeman. Franjul would drive in two runs. Manny Valenzuela, Brandon Andrews, and Jaylen Camarillo each added a hit, as the Crusaders totaled nine.
 
Trever Smith took the loss in the start with 1.0 inning. Gavin Chamberlain went the longest stretch with 2.2 innings. Sam Marvin chipped in 1.2 innings, while Sean Hiller retired five-of-six batters he faced with two strikeouts and no hits nor runs given up.
 
Hill went a complete game for the Bobcats, fanning eight and walking two. He allowed four runs on nine hits. Seven outs were groundouts and he threw 115 pitches in the outing.
 
"Dallas Christian educates and mentors students to be people of influence engaging in their calling to the work of Christ in the church and in the world."