Unfortunately, sporadic defense and the inability to garner timely hits sent the Bluejays home with two losses, 12-11 in 10 innings and 3-1.

"It was a frustrating day because I picked (Ottawa) to finish first in the conference and we felt like in a number of facets of the game, we really outplayed them," coach John Sparks said.

In the opener, starting pitcher Casey Hillman allowed nine hits and eight earned runs in 32/3 innings. Tabor committed five errors in the game.

"Not to make excuses, but we hadn't been on the infield for about 10 days because of the weather," Sparks said. "But after about the fifth inning, we settled down and didn't make any more errors."

The Bluejays scored one run in the second, five in the third and two more in the fourth to take an 8-3 lead into the bottom of the fourth, But Ottawa answered with a six-run fourth to take a 9-8 lead.

After the Bluejays regained the lead 11-9 in the fifth, the Braves tied the score with two runs in the fifth before securing the win with a run in the 10th.

Tyler McKim took the loss but allowed only four hits in 42/3 innings before the Braves won the game with an unearned run.

Tabor accumulated 13 hits. J.D. Poplin had three while Nick Green, Hillman and Casey Cooper had two apiece. Green, Hillman and Cooper each drove in two runs.

Ottawa scored 12 runs on 16 hits and committed one error.

"We struggled to field the ball early and gave away a lot of runs that came back to haunt us," Sparks said. "Casey (Hillman) had trouble early hitting spots and then they really hit the ball well-and even hit some good pitches. So you have to tip your hat to them."

In Game 2, Jeremy Sneed hurled a complete six-inning game, allowing eight hits and three earned runs while striking out two and walking two.

"Jeremy pitched well," Sparks said. "And we fielded well."

Tabor took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Nick Green hit one of his two doubles to chase Josh Craig across home plate after Craig had singled.

But Ottawa bounced back in their next at-bat with three to take a 3-1 lead.

Tabor managed five hits; Green and Hillman each had two.

Ottawa scored three times on eight hits and committed two errors.

"We had guys in scoring position but just couldn't get the clutch hit," Sparks said. "We hit a number of balls hard, but right at them so it was one of those frustrating games where you really felt like we could have had three or four more runs.

"We felt like we hit the ball harder than they did, but they rolled some balls through holes and had a couple of Texas Leaguers that fell in and that was the difference."

Tabor's record now stands at 11-13 overall and 1-3 in the KCAC.

Coming-Tabor travels to Salina on Wednesday to face Kansas Wesleyan with the first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.

The Bluejays return home Saturday to host the Friends Falcons with a 1 p.m. start.