Box Score HOUSTON — Four pitchers and some spectacular defense combined for the first shutout of the season for the No. 17/24 Arkansas Tech baseball team, as the Wonder Boys took advantage of every bit of a timely offense in a 2-0 victory over No. 22 Central Missouri Saturday afternoon on the third day of the Houston Winter Invitational at Minute Maid Park.

Starter Cody Jones went seven innings for the Wonder Boys (3-4), giving up four hits and three walks while striking out four. Bryson Morris and Ryan Vruggink combined to go five outs without allowing a hit out of the bullpen, before Randy Vallejo came in to record the final out and pick up his first save of the season.

Tech jumped to the lead early, getting started in the top of the first inning as Caleb McKinnon smacked the third pitch of the game deep to right center for a double. A Collin O'Neil groundout moved him over to third, and Patrick Castleberry followed with a double to left to give the Wonder Boys their first lead in Houston at 1-0.

The one run would end up being all the team needed behind Jones and a sturdy bullpen, but an insurance run in the eight provided a bit of a cushion in a game where both teams had chances often but could rarely cash in. O'Neil led off the frame with a double to left center, but was still sitting on second two outs later. Bryan Heward kept him from being stranded though, lofting a single to center that scored O'Neil easily to bump the lead to 2-0.

The Tech pitching staff also benefitted from great defense to get out of a few jams. The Mules (1-2) put a runner into scoring position in three of the final four innings, beginning in the sixth, when an error put their leadoff batter on third. Two pitches later, the next UCM batter lined a ball to right field, where Heward made the catch and uncorked a bullet to the plate to cut down the Mules' chance to tie the game. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, McKinnon snagged a ball at third on an in-between hop and touched the bag for the final out of the game.

McKinnon and O'Neil each cracked two hits and scored a run, while Castleberry and Heward's lone hits each knocked in runs. John Lassiter went 3-for-4 in turning the lineup over from his spot batting ninth, and stole a pair of bases.

The Wonder Boys conclude their trip to Houston Sunday with a 6 p.m. contest against Tarleton State.