St. Louis, Mo. – The Washington University in St. Louis baseball team scored nine unanswered runs en route to an 11-6 series opening victory over the University of the Ozarks on Saturday at Kelly Field. 

WashU has now won three consecutive games and improves to 4-7 on the year and UO moves to 4-12. 

The Bears tabbed an early lead in the bottom of the first as Andrew Huang ripped a two-RBI double down the leftfield line to score both Magnus Dunn and Clayton Miller. 

Ozarks cut into the lead in the top half of the third using an infield RBI groundout to bring in a run. 

In the fourth, the Eagles notched four runs on three hits, including a three-RBI bases clearing triple, putting UO on top 5-1. 

The lead was extended out to 6-1 in the top of the fifth after the Eagles added another run on an infield single. 

However, WashU responded with a massive fifth inning with six runs on five hits, as they would eventually re-claim the lead for good, shutting out the Eagles in the final four innings of play. 

Tim Van Kirk's two-run homer to right field reduced the deficit down to 6-4, while the Bears' bats continued to stay hot, recording three straight doubles. In total, WashU finished with six total extra base hits. 

Jack Miller connected on an RBI double to deep right, scoring Andrew Huang, who registered his second double of the day in the previous at-bat. 

In the ensuing at-bat, Zac Styka's RBI double to left scored Miller to tie up the contest at 6-6. 

WU added two more runs in the frame, scoring off a Broghan O'Connor sacrifice fly and an RBI single to left from Dunn. 

Joseph Hettinger, who pitched in relief for Sebastian Guzman, collected the victory on the mound, marking his second win thus far in 2022. 

Hettinger boasted a strong effort, pitching 4.1 innings of work, while allowing only three hits and one run. 

In addition, the lefty struck out three batters in the victory. 

WashU added three runs of insurance, as O'Connor crossed the plate in the bottom of the seventh off a passed ball and Harry Mauterer's two-RBI shot to left brought home both Jack Miller and Anthony Gross. 

Kyle Coates entered the contest in the ninth, preserving the victory as he quickly recorded the final three outs of the day. 

Dunn posted his third-straight multi-hit game as he led WashU with a three-hit performance, while Huang, Mauterer, and Clayton Miller all finished with two hits apiece. 

Van Kirk, Huang, and Mauterer all tallied two RBI each as the Bears matched a season-high five doubles and set a new-season best six stolen bases. 

The Bears will close out the series tomorrow with a doubleheader at Kelly Field beginning at noon.