Point Lookout, Mo. – The Saint Xavier University baseball team (7-12/0-0 CCAC) came up just short in 7-6 setback to College of the Ozarks (Mo.) Thursday evening in Point Lookout, Mo. The Cougars chipped away at a three-run deficit in the top of the 7th inning by scoring two runs but couldn't get the equalizer. Junior catcher Evan Orzech (Shorewood, Ill./Crossroads Christian Academy) finished the game 1-for-4, however he cracked his third home run of the season and collected three RBI. Sophomore outfielder Kevin Dowling (Chicago, Ill./Murray State/Mount Carmel) also played well, going 4-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored, two stolen bases and an RBI.

• Sophomore pitcher Nico Saldias (Ajax, Ontario/Connors State/Pickering) served as an 'Opener' as he pitched just in the first inning, striking out the side with one hit and a walk allowed.
• Freshman pitcher Trent Markezich (Mount Olive, Ill./Mount Olive) took the loss (0-1) after 3.2 innings of work out of the bullpen. He surrendered four hits, five runs, two walks and struck out four batters.
• Sophomore pitcher Noah Scott (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) pitched in the bottom of the 5^th but did not record an out after giving up two hits, a walk and a run.
• Junior pitcher Tzu-Chun Yen (Kaohsiung, Taiwan/Ohlone/Meiho) finished the game, posting 1.1 innings with two hits and a run.
• The Bobcats took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2^nd on an RBI single and added two more runs in the bottom of the 3^rd, one from a runner scoring from third after a dropped third strike and the other off a sacrifice fly.
• Dowling led off the top of the 4^th with a base hit and Orzech followed with a two-run home run to get SXU within one run, 3-2.
• Senior infielder Patrick Hayes (Chicago, Ill./Moraine Valley/Parkland/Brother Rice) started the top of the 5^th with a double and Dowling would drive him in to tie the game at 3-3.
• Ozarks took the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run single and an RBI base hit to go up 6-3.
• Senior pinch hitter Sam Ryan (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Conant) laced an RBI single in the top of the 6^th, however the Bobcats would get the run back in the next half inning on an RBI single.
• Orzech drove in a run with an RBI groundout in the top of the 7^th and senior designated hitter Joe Rycerz (Schererville, Ind./Andrean) hit a sacrifice fly, but Ozarks would get the final out one batter later.

Saint Xavier (7-12/0-0 CCAC) continues its series with College of the Ozarks (Mo.) with a doubleheader on Friday, March 10. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 2:00 pm.