WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Washington & Jefferson College sophomore infielder Josh Dezenzo (Marlington, Ohio/Alliance) homered three times in a historic offensive showing Thursday afternoon at Ross Memorial Park. Despite the terrific individual performance, the Presidents fell by an 8-7 score to visiting Muskingum University in non-conference action.
The three home runs by Dezenzo is believed to be the most in single game in W&J modern day history. Dezenzo finished his day with four hits, four RBI and three runs scored.
Junior outfielder Drew Garth (Glenshaw, Pa./North Hills) added three hits, including a home run of his own, a mammoth shot in the third inning.
After a scoreless first inning, W&J opened up a 2-0 lead behind a two-run shot by Dezenzo in the bottom of the second. Dezenzo sent a shot over the left center field fence scoring Zaas, who singled earlier in the inning. Muskingum quickly answered back with a crooked number in the top of the third inning. The Muskies pushed six runs across on four hits in the frame. Muskingum took advantage of a pair of hit by pitches and a walk to put up the big inning.
W&J answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to trim the deficit to 6-4. Freshman outfielder Andrew Miko (Portage, Pa. / Portage) led off with a single and scored on the two-run home run by Garth.
Dezenzo trimmed the deficit further with a solo home run to lead off the fourth. In the bottom of the sixth, the sophomore went deep for a third time. The lead-off home run by Dezenzo evened the score at 6-6. The home run was the third of the day and fourth over the past two days for Dezenzo.
Muskingum used a lead-off walk and consecutive hits to regain the lead at 8-6 in the top of the eighth.
W&J loaded the bases in both the eighth and ninth innings. The Presidents used consecutive singles by Zaas, Dezenzo and Eli Owens(Alexandria, Va./West Potomac) to set up a bases loaded no outs scenario in the eighth. After a W&J batter was caught looking for the first out, freshman Zac Stern (Coraopolis. Pa./Montour), who was called upon to pinch hit drove in a run on a fielders choice. Muskingum was able to escape further damage, as W&J left a pair on base.
After the Presidents retired the Muskies in order in the top of the ninth inning, the Red and Black would have three more outs to work with trailing by one. Garth and Nolan Lutz (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) used back-to-back one-out singles put a pair of runners on for the Presidents. After a groundout for the second out, Muskingum elected to intentionally walk the hot-hitting Dezenzo to load the bases. The move paid off as the Muskies were able to use a strikeout to escape with the victory.
Junior pitcher Ethan Marszalek (Katy, Texas/Seven Lakes) was saddled with the loss after giving up two runs (one earned) over the final three innings.
Zaas and Lutz finished with two hits apiece to back the efforts of Dezenzo and Garth.
W&J returns to action when they open up their annual Spring Break trip on Sunday, March 17. The Presidents face No. 7 ranked Wisconsin La Crosse at Northeast Regional Park in Davenport, Fla. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.