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ARKADELPHIA, Ark. -- The 19th-ranked Central Missouri Mules suffered their first shutout loss since the 2011 World Series in a 12-0 loss at Ouachita Baptist on Friday afternoon.

The Tigers (3-2) jumped on top in the bottom of the first inning with a pair of runs. They then blew the game open in the bottom of the third scoring five runs to take a 7-0 lead. A UCM error in the outfield helped extend the inning and put the Mules in a big hole.

OBU added a single run in the fifth and tacked on four unearned runs in the sixth to take a 12-0 lead. That was all that starter Davis Ward (2-0) would need.

The reigning NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week held the Mules hitless until UCM got three straight singles in the top of the seventh. A double play wiped out the baserunners, however, and ended the game giving the Mules their first shutout loss in over two seasons and the worst defeat in the Tom Myers era.

Ward tossed seven innings of three-hit ball. He walked one and struck out seven.

Andrew Gimeno (0-1) took the loss after giving up four runs, three earned, on five hits in just two innings of work.

The teams return to action on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.