ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Returning home after over two weeks on the road, the RV Washington University in St. Louis baseball team used an early barrage of runs to run away from visiting Eureka on Wednesday afternoon at Kelly Field.

After a three-up, three-down inning in the top of the first, first-year Ryan Soong led off with a single up the middle. After a fly out, Soong stole second base. Graduate Noah Reichman would follow up with a single to left that allowed Soong to score and put the Bears up 1-0.

Another three-batter inning in the top of the second once again saw WashU score in the bottom of the frame. Graduate Colter Couillard-Rodak led off with a triple to left center. After a ground-out, sophomore Anthony Equale was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. While Soong was back at bat, the Red Devils' pitcher committed a balk advancing both baserunners one base, with Couillard-Rodak scoring from third, putting WashU ahead, 2-0.

The third inning saw the Bears score four more runs on six hits. Reichman, junior Shane Pellegrino, and sophomore Carson Cleage each started with a hit for WashU; Reichman scored on Cleage's hit, while Pellegrino advanced to second. A double-steal later saw no outs and both runners in scoring position.

First-year Will Taigen would single through the left side, putting Cleage on third and allowing Pellegrino to score. A sacrifice bunt by Couillard-Rodak allowed Cleage to score the third run of the inning. After Eureka induced a ground out, Equale doubled down the right field line, scoring Taigen from third and putting the Bears ahead 6-0.

After a scoreless fourth, the Red Devils were able to score twice in the top of the fifth off of three hits to cut the lead down to just four runs. WashU responded in the bottom of the inning by getting one of those runs back. Couillard-Rodak doubled down the right field line to start things off and a sacrifice bunt pushed him to third. A sacrifice fly by Equale scored Couillard-Rodak and put the Bears back up five, 7-2.

The Bears allowed just one runner in the final three innings to reach third, while they added a pair of runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to take an 11-2 lead going into the bottom of the eighth. Cleage was hit by a pitch to start off the bottom of the eighth and a single by Taigen to right center pushed Cleage to second. A shallow ball to right field that rolled past the fielder allowed Cleage to score from second and end the game 12-2 with the run-rule in effect.

Couillard-Rodak finished with three hits, including a pair of doubles, while collecting two RBIs and two runs scored to lead the way for the Bears. Soong, Reichman, Cleage, Taigen, and Equale also had a multi-hit game for WashU. Junior Miles Quemuel-Labrador (4-0) earned the win in relief pitching 1.1 innings with two strikeouts and allowing just one hit.

WashU is back on the field on Friday, April 18 when it welcomes Brandeis to Irv Utz Stadium for a four-game UAA series with the Judges. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 3 p.m. The contest is being recognized as the Faculty/Staff Appreciation Game, APIDA Heritage Game, as well as welcoming special guests from the Olin Business School.

Following the conclusion of the softball game, young fans attending a game at either field will be able to participate in a special Egg Hunt on the softball field for special prizes. Please contact Marketing and Multimedia Manager Bailey Redden at bredden@wustl.edu to sign up to participate if you have not already done so or if you have any questions!