ST. LOUIS – The University of Missouri-St. Louis baseball team got solid pitching and timely hitting as it opened its four-game series with a 6-1 win over William Jewell on Friday afternoon at the UMSL Baseball Field. The Tritons improve to 17-13, 9-8 GLVC while the Cardinals drop to 16-12, 8-9 GLVC.

The win snapped UMSL's four-game losing streak.

The Tritons broke on top with two runs in the home half of the first. Braedon Stoakes started the rally with a one out single through the right side. After a pop out, Andrew Buescher walked and Bryce Kulinski was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Justin Simard followed with a single to left center bringing in Stoakes and Buescher.

UMSL added to its lead in the fourth. With two out Zach Beatty and Dane Stevenson reached on back-to-back singles. Stoakes singled down the third base line to load the bases for Barrett Rose. Rose walked on a 3-1 pitch scoring Beatty.

The Tritons fourth run came in the seventh. With one away and the bases loaded Simard singled down the right field line bringing home Rose for his third RBI of the afternoon.

UMSL's final two runs came in the eighth with two hits and an error. With one out, Stevenson bunted it back to the pitcher. Cam Lawson bobbled the ball allowing Stevenson to reach. Stoakes walked and Rose followed with a single to right center scoring Stevenson to make it 5-0. Buescher reached on a bunt single down the third base line scoring Stoakes for the final run.

RJ Elmore pitched a gem coming within one out of a complete game shutout but a single from Ben Click with two out in the ninth brought home Evan Jilbert to break up the shutout. He set down 13 straight Cardinals at one point retiring the side in order in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings.

Elmore held a William Jewell lineup that entering the day was hitting .324 and averaging 9.3 runs per contest in check.

Trent Anderson got the final out striking out pinch hitter Cole Conner with the bases loaded and the tying run on deck to earn his fourth save of the season.

The Tritons outhit the Cardinals 10-7 and were led by Stoakes with three hits while Buescher and Simard had two hits apiece. Elmore picked up the win to improve to 3-4. He struck out two and walked two in his outing.

UMSL and WJC continue its four-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon starting at noon at the UMSL Baseball Field.