ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western baseball team (19-20, 16-14) was limited to four hits in a 3-0 series finale loss to Southwest Baptist (18-27, 10-20).

SBU starter Kyle Smith needed just 92 pitches to throw a complete game shutout and give his team a 2-1 win in the three-game series. The Bearcats scored one unearned run in the first off Thomas Ruwe with an RBI groundout after a passed ball put two runners in scoring position. SBU added two more off Ruwe in the third on an RBI-single by Jackson Soule that capped a 12-pitch at bat.

Meanwhile, Smith stymied the Griffon offense, needing just 72 pitches to get through the first eight innings. Josh Robinson led off the ninth with a single and got to second on a Casey Danley ground out. Andrew Curry walked to put the winning run at the plate with two down. Dusty Stroup grounded into a force out at third to end the game.

Ruwe went 3 2/3, giving up three runs – two earned – on four hits. He struck out five and walked three. Anthony Castaneda came in out of the bullpen and struck out eight without a walk and scattering two hits over 5 1/3.

The Griffons dropped out of a sixth-place tie in the MIAA standings with Lindenwood to one game back in seventh place. Missouri Western is scheduled to host Illinois-Springfield in a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday at three before hosting MIAA-leading Central Missouri for the final three games of the regular season, May 3-5.

— MWSU Athletics —