Orem, Utah – Kade Andrus had a double, triple, and drove in four runs to lead Utah Valley University to a 16-3, run-rule shortened rout over Chicago State on Thursday night at Brent Brown Ballpark. The 16 runs are a season high and the 16-hit night matches a season high.

Mark Kruger homered for the second straight game and the Wolverines (8-19, 4-3) matched a season high with six extra-base hits including triples from both Andrus and Zac Fuller.

Andrus started the scoring for UVU in the bottom of the first, scoring on a Spencer Gothberg single to left. The Wolverines had their first seven hitters en route to three more runs in the inning including two on bases loaded walks. Greyson Bogden had an RBI single to drive in a run for a 4-0 lead and in the processed knocked CSU starter Dane Mehling without an out recorded.

"I thought we came to the park ready to go tonight and really jumping out quickly set the tone for us," said UVU head coach Eric Madsen. "We were able to take advantage of what they gave us and put up some big numbers. It's a great start to the series but there's a lot more baseball to be played."

The Wolverines tacked on four more runs in the third inning highlighted by an Andrus triple to deep center field that plated two runs. Andrus came home to score two batters later on a Jake Atkinson infield single to make it 8-0. All of the scoring came after there were two outs and nobody on in the inning.

Chicago State (7-20, 1-5) got on the board in the fourth inning when Robert Swenson doubled to right center to drive in Chase Matheson. The Wolverines responded with Fuller's triple to center field in the fourth that scored Bogden and Jordan Schlehuber to made it 10-1.

After the Cougars scored a pair in the top half of the fifth, Utah Valley put a crooked number on the board in the bottom of the sixth, scoring six times and sending 10 hitters to the plate. Andrus had a two-run double to straightaway center and Krueger hit the next pitch out, right down the right field line. Also driving in runs in the inning were Kody Moon (sac fly) and Bogden (double).

UVU starter Danny Beddes (3-4) pitched 6.0 innings giving up three runs (one earned) while striking out six and walking five. It was his third win of the season and second consecutive win over a WAC opponent. Mehring (1-2) took the loss on the mound for the Cougars.

The two teams will meet again in the second of the three-game series on Friday night at Brent Brown Ballpark. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. MT.