ST. LOUIS – Behind a nine-run third inning, Saint Louis University baseball (16-4) got back in the win column here Friday, muscling out a 14-12 victory over the Big 12's Cincinnati Bearcats (13-10, 3-3).

The Billikens 14 runs against the Bearcats all came in back-to-back innings, with Cole Smith kicking things off in the third. With two outs on the board, the senior drove in two runs, singling up the middle. From there, the flood gates opened, as Tyler Fogarty, Graham Mastros, Easton Richter and Knox Preston all drove in an RBI of their own. Austin Neuweg and Haydne Moore took it a step further, blasting back-to-back home runs to give the Billikens a 9-0 advantage.

Two Bearcat home runs in the top of the fourth inning got the visitors on the board, but four more Billiken RBIs and a defensive error boosted their lead to 14-2.

Trailing by 12 heading into the fifth frame, Cincinnati went to work, blasting six additional home runs through the ensuing innings to pull within two (14-12). 

On the mound in relief, Jack Weber secured the win for the Billikens and the junior's second save of the season, striking out the game's final batter, his fifth strikeout through 3.1 innings.

Starting the game for SLU, Jackson Holmes earned his fifth win of the season moving his record to 5-1 on the mound this year.

Offensively, Fogarty tallied four RBIs on three hits while eight other Billikens recorded hits – five of them posting multi-hit outings.

The Billikens continue their series with the Bearcats at the Billiken Sports Center tomorrow at 2 p.m.