The Moniteau baseball team picked up its first win of the season in style.

Zack Wheeler and Jeremy Ritts combined for a two-hit shutout in the Warriors' 8-0 victory over Union Monday at Pullman Park.

Wheeler earned the win, striking out seven and walking two in 4X\c innings. The lone hit he gave up was a bloop single to center field by the Golden Knights' Brennan Bliss in the top of the fourth.

"He wasn't getting ahead of a lot of hitters," Warriors coach Ross Martin said, "but he was pretty good today. It's always better to be ahead in the count, but he's still easing into the season."

Wheeler was pulled in favor of Ritts with two outs in the fifth inning and the bases empty.

"We weren't going to have (Wheeler) go more than five innings today," Martin said.

Ritts disposed of the Knights in a similar fashion, striking out three, walking one and giving up one hit to Trent Corle in the top of the sixth inning, in the last 2Z\c innings of the game.

"Jeremy came in and threw strikes," said Martin. "That's what he does."

The Warriors got all the offense they needed in the bottom of the first inning.

Brandon Bonzo drew a walk from Corle to open the inning before Heath Lominski drilled a shot to left-center that turned into an inside-the-park home run and a 2-0 lead.

"Anytime you have a guy go out and make a play like that, it's a big boost," said Martin. "(Lominski) runs like a gazelle."

Moniteau (1-2) extended its edge to 5-0 in the bottom of the third, when Jay Wiles scored on a wild pitch and Wheeler's groundout plated Lominski before Tony Campbell, who began the play at second base, raced around third for the other run.

Remaining RBI in the game went to Bonzo with a groundout in the fourth inning and Campbell, who laced a run-scoring single in the sixth.

Corle took the loss for the Knights after pitching two innings and surrendering two runs on one hit. He struck out three and walked one.

Taylor Smith and Ron Cary each pitched two innings of relief for Union.

"This is our first of six games at Pullman this season," said Martin. "It's a very prestigious place and it's an honor to play here."

Union coach Doug Kriebel was unavailable for comment.

Union 000 000 0 — 0 2 1Moniteau 203 201 x — 8 7 1W: Zack Wheeler 4X\c IP (7 K, 2 BB).

L: Trent Corle 2 IP (3 K, 1 BB).

Union: Trent Corle 1B, Brennan Bliss 1B, Logan Mortimer SB

Moniteau: (1-2) Brandon Bonzo R RBI, Heath Lominski 1B HR 2R 2 RBI, Tony Campbell 2-1B R RBI, Zack Wheeler RBI, Brayden McCorry SB, Mike Saper 1B R, J.R. Schreib R, Jay Wiles 1B R SB, Josh Stockert 2B R

Today: Moniteau at Venango Catholic

Thursday: Clarion at Union