The New York University baseball team was defeated in its University Athletic Association (UAA) opener, 4-1, by Washington University in St. Louis on Friday, March 30, at MCU Park in Brooklyn.

The game was the first of four this weekend between the Violets (15-2, 0-1 UAA) and the Bears (12-7, 1-0 UAA).

WashU scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning to go ahead 1-0, but NYU answered in the bottom half as Colman Hendershot blasted his first home run of the season off of the scoreboard in left-centerfield.

John Ostrander's RBI double in the fourth inning put the Bears back in front and they wouldn't relinquish the lead the rest of the way as WashU starting pitcher Matt Ashbaugh and reliever Tim Tague didn't let another Violet cross home plate.

The Bears added insurance runs in the seventh and ninth and won the game 4-1.

Ford Ladd started the game on the mound for NYU and was the hard-luck loser, tossing 6.2 innings and allowing just two earned runs while striking out six Bears. 

Isaac Martinez led NYU offensively, recording two of the squad's seven hits.

The Violets and Bears will return to the diamond at MCU Park on Saturday to play the second and third games of the series. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12pm.