GEORGETOWN – First-year pitcher Jacob Kendra went the distance for one of the best pitching performances for Southwestern University this season to shutout Cardinal Stritch 2-0 Tuesday afternoon in non-conference college baseball action.

Kendra approached the 100 pitch mark in the ninth inning as he allowed just four hits to move to 2-1 on the year. He allowed just three hits through the first five innings as the Wolves managed just five base runners – two coming in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth.

Both pitchers were solid on a chilly afternoon that saw each team's starter go the distance.

Ryan DeRosa scattered eight hits in eight innings of work, however Kendra walked just one and struck out four to hold the Wolves offense at bay. Kendra seemed to pick up steam in the late innings as he retired CSU in order in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings before allowing a one single in the ninth.

Southwestern struggled to score runners leaving the bases loaded in the second inning as a double play also ended Pirate threats in the first and third innings.

Colten Shea picked up his first hit of the day in the eighth on a two-out single up the middle. Shea stole second and third before a balk from the Wolves starter gave the Pirates a 1-0 lead.

The Pirates added an insurance run in the eighth as Jake Pawelek singled to lead-off the inning. Dickson Wharton pinch ran for Pawelek and scored from third on Clayton Sparks third hit of the day. Sparks paced Southwestern offensively going 3-for-4 win the game's only RBI.

Pawelek was also 3-for-4 as he joined Sparks with six of Southwestern's eight hits in the game.

Southwestern opens SCAC action Friday as Schreiner heads to Rockwell Field for a three-game series. First pitch on Friday is set for 6 p.m.