LEWISTON – The Bates College baseball team spotted Wesleyan University four runs in the first inning before rapping out 16 hits en route to a 13-5 victory Saturday to start the teams’ three-game series.

Bates sophomore catcher Gordy Webb clubbed a pair of two-run home runs for the Bobcats (8-13) and sophomore Chris Burke went 4-for-5.

Senior Ben Shwartz (3-0) earned the win, allowing all of the Cardinals’ (13-11) runs in five innings. Karl Alexander and Tyler Kuehl both threw two innings of shutout relief to sew up the win.

It is the first visit to Bates for Wesleyan since 1996. The teams compete in separate divisions of the New England Small College Athletic Conference. They’ll play a doubleheader on Sunday at Bates, starting at noon.

The Bobcats scored two runs in the second and exploded for seven more in the third against Wesleyan starter Mike Barsotti (1-3).

In addition to Webb and Chris Burke, Tom Beaton, Noah Burke and Jake Simon all collected two hits for the Bobcats, with Noah Burke driving in three runs and Beaton driving in two more. Rich Velotta went 1-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBIs.

Drew Dominguez and Brice Kelly both had three of the Cardinals’ 12 hits.