(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) – Mules baseball shut down Southwest Baptist in the final game of their season series 8-0 behind a combined effort from four Mules pitchers that held the Bearcats to two hits.

Both teams’ starters were in command through five innings as both teams struggled to get their offenses going. Mules starter Collin Jones would go 6.1 innings allowing the only two hits of the game and striking out three.

The Mules offense struggled to get anything going against Bearcats starter Elias Czech, but were able to capitalize on their third time through the lineup. First baseman Collin Nevil lead off the sixth and was hit by an inside pitch to get on base, right fielder Justin Graff-Rowe suffered the same fate and third baseman John Fairchild would come to the plate with two on and one out. Fairchild delivered and smashed a triple to the center field wall to start a five-run inning.

“In that situation where both teams aren’t scoring, you stay calm and don’t try to do too much,” Nevil said. “Just trust the guys around you and when push comes to shove we’re gonna find a way to score runs.”

The Mules added three more runs down the stretch punishing the Bearcats bullpen. Nevil crushed his 13^th home run of the season on a 2-0 pitch to right field to cap off the victory.

“I was just looking for a good pitch to hit, I got up in the count and was sitting on a fastball. Just trying to get on time and catch a ball out front,” Nevil said.

The Mules defense limited any momentum the Bearcats tried to mount throughout the game turning three double plays and allowing only one Bearcat baserunner to reach third base.

Mules second baseman Donavan Ditto finished 2-3 improving his season average to .282 in his freshman campaign. Shortstop Harrison Schnurbusch went 2-4 and drove in two runs. Graff-Rowe reached based three of the four times he came up to bat collecting a hit and two walks.

The victory marks the 30^th on the season for the Mules and their record in the MIAA is now 21-9. They trail Central Oklahoma by a game for first place in the conference. The Mules have three games in hand over the Bronchos in the final week of the season. With the win, the Mules have won consecutive games for the first time since April 4.

“I feel like we were pretty hot at the beginning and then hit a bit of a rut,” Nevil said. “I think we’ve came together really nicely here in the last week and we’re going in the right direction.”

There are only six games left on the schedule for the Mules. The weekend series with Missouri Southern will be the final home games of the season. Saturday will serve as senior day where the Mules will honor 12 seniors including regular starters Fairchild, Graff-Rowe, Nevil and Travis Able.