ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Missouri Western baseball (10-24, 8-15 MIAA) scored a 5-1 win over Arkansas-Fort Smith in a series opening game Friday at the MWSU Spring Sports Complex.

In the first meeting with UAFS since 2019, and the first ever in St. Joseph, Missouri Western scored a run in each of the first two innings and tacked on a run in the fourth, fifth and seventh as well.

All the while, Lynden Bruegman (2-4) went a career-best 6.0 innings on the mound, getting his second win of the season and striking out eight.

Will Kennedy tossed the last three innings in hitless relief, putting UAFS down 1-2-3 in each frame and striking out two batters.

Offensively, Frank Gall went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a triple. Carson Shear was 2-for-3 with a run and two RBIs. He went yard in the seventh.

Missouri Western resumes with series with UAFS on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Griffon Sports Network (Varsity Network App, GoGriffons.com/listen) and available to stream on the MIAA Network.