RIMERSBURG — The Union baseball team was looking for a late-season shot in the arm.

And it got one.

Sophomore pitcher Travis Anthony allowed just five baserunners and was supported by a strong offensive effort as the Golden Knights handed Moniteau a 9-0 setback Friday afternoon.

Anthony, who struck out six and walked two in just his third career varsity start on the mound, surrendered only two hits: Zane Slater’s double in the second inning and Josh McCormick’s infield single in the seventh.

The Union pitcher also hit a batter, but he consistently threw strikes and kept the Warriors (7-7) off the scoreboard.

“I kept throwing my fastball and curveball,” said Anthony, who now has two complete games in three starts. “I felt great the whole game and the momentum just kept me going, and the defense played great behind me.”

The first dose of the solid defensive play came in the top of the second inning with the Knights (9-4, 8-3) ahead 3-0.

Slater led off with a double to left-center for the Warriors and moved to third on Tony Campbell’s groundout.

Josh Howland followed with a fly out to right and Aaron Paulden threw a perfect strike to Union catcher Kasey Kriebel to get Slater, who was trying to score on the play.

The next time Moniteau managed a baserunner was in the top of the sixth inning after Anthony had set the Warriors down in order in the third, fourth and fifth innings.

“We’d like to get him in the weight room,” Union coach Alan Carmichael said. “We can put some muscle on him for that fastball because his off-speed stuff is outstanding.”

Nick Morrow pitched six innings for Moniteau, surrendering the nine runs on 12 hits, striking out five and walking one.

“We’ve shown that we can play with the best teams, but we haven’t done as well against the lesser teams,” said Carmichael

“It’s nice to see the team coming together here late in the season,” he added. “It especially helps when we get an effort like Travis gave us today.”

The Knights jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first after Brett Moore’s single plated A.J. Ethriedge and Kriebel.

Moore scored when the next batter, Aaron Paulden, managed an RBI single to center.

Morrow was able to limit the damage to three runs until Union scored four more times in the bottom of the fourth.

Clay Burns had a run-scoring single, Ethriedge doubled in a run before successfully stealing home and Kriebel drove in another run with a groundout.

Moniteau coach Ross Martin declined to comment following the game.

Moniteau 000 000 0—0 2 2

Union 300 411 x—9 12 0

Nick Morrow and Zac Wheeler; Travis Anthony and Kasey Kriebel. W: Anthony (6 K, 2 BB). L: Morrow (5 K, 1 BB).

Moniteau (7-7): Zane Slater 2B, Josh McCormick 1B

Union (9-4, 8-3): A.J. Ethriedge 2B 2R RBI SB, Kasey Kriebel 1B R 2 RBI, Chase Stewart 1B, Brett Moore 1B R 2 RBI SB, Aaron Paulden 3-1B R RBI SB, Nate Boltz 1B R RBI SB, Neil Scott R, Clay Burns 1B R RBI, Brandon Johnston 2B R, John Zanot 1B, Anthony Hunsberger 1B

Tuesday: Union at Clarion