The Missouri Western baseball team (28-11,21-8) took advantage of offensive opportunities and Brandon Simmons went nine scoreless innings on the way to the team’s seventh consecutive victory.

Simmons (9-2) had not went past the seventh inning in any of his previous nine starts, but his efficiency Friday at Truman (12-25, 11-23) allowed him to get through the ninth. Simmons put the Bulldogs down in order, striking out the final batter in the bottom of the ninth to secure the 5-0 win.

Michael Shulze led off the game with a home run to left field. The sophomore shortstop drove in two on the day with his double to center in the fifth scoring Bubba Dotson. Dotson had an RBI of his own in the second with a single up the middle that scored Nate Ramler from second.

Ramler was 1-4 on the day with a double and a run scored. Western added an unearned run in the fifth on Shawn Egge’s RBI bunt. Smelcer led off the inning by reaching on a fielding error by the third baseman. A bunt single from Dotson moved Smelcer to second and Smelcer got to third on a sacrifice bunt from Tony Loeffler. Spencer Shockley was 2-4 and Dotson finished the game 2-3 at the plate.

Simmons allowed eight hits and walked just one, while striking out eight. The Griffons and Bulldogs face off in a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. in Kirksville.

— MWSU Sports Information —