WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson Presidents opened their 2023 season with a 10-6 non-conference win over Muskingum University at Ross Memorial Park Saturday. The Presidents were powered by Jacob LaDuca's four RBI and two hits.  

W&J opened the scoring in the bottom of the third. Tyler Horvat tripled to right center field and then scored on LaDuca's groundout, giving W&J a 1-0 lead.  

Muskingum's offense tied the game in the top of the fifth to even the contest at 1-1. 

The Presidents quickly retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth, adding two more runs. Horvat led off with a single to right field and then scored on LaDuca's double to right. LaDuca then advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Tony Tamilia's sacrifice fly to center.  

W&J's offense exploded in the bottom of the sixth, adding seven runs to put the game out of reach. John Klein opened the bottom half of the frame with a walk and advanced to second on Connor Helm's single. Horvat then walked to load the bases. LaDuca knocked in two runs on a single to left field, putting runners on the corners. Evan Sante then walked to again load the bases with no outs. Sam Schuster walked, scoring another run to put the Presidents up 6-1.

Muskingum's pitching change couldn't stop the Presidents' bats, with Tamilia's sacrifice fly scoring DeLuca. Logan Scheider then doubled to left center, knocking home both Schuster and Sante. Klein used his second at bat of the inning to single to center field to score Scheider, putting the Presidents up 10-1. 

Muskingum's offense continued to chip away at W&J's lead. The Muskies plated three runs in the seventh and two in the ninth but ultimately came up short. 

Horvat was a bright spot for the Presidents on the mound. He struck out eight and allowed just one earned run on one hit in five innings.

W&J is back in action Saturday, Feb. 25 at 11 a.m. against 15th ranked Oswego State at Ross Memorial Park.