WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson baseball team opened the 2015 Presidents' Athletic Conference campaign with a 4-3 win over Thiel at Ross Memorial Park.

Catcher Derek Helbing led the Presidents' offense, recording his first career multi-hit game with a 2-for-4 showing, while driving in a career-best three runs and racing to his first collegiate triple.

Helbing gave the Presidents a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, knocking a 1-0 pitch into center field for a base hit that scored Anthony Paladino from second.

Thiel tied the game in the top of the third, but Helbing gave the hosts the advantage back when he drove a 1-2 pitch to the fence in straight-away center field to bring home Paladino and Nelson McKown. The very next hitter, Cory Bauer, grounded out to third which Helbing scored on.

The final runs of the game were scored by the Tomcats in the top of the sixth on a two-run homer to left by Trent Mosley, but the Presidents held on for the 4-3 league victory.

Trevor Kerr picked up his first win of the season and improved to 1-1 after tossing a career-long 6.0 innings and yielding seven hits and three earned runs while striking out four. Joe Vita picked up his first college save, working the final 3.0 innings and surrendering just one hit. He retired the nine batters he faced in just 18 pitches and picked off the only runner to reach base against him.

Nick Vento continued his torrid pace to begin the season, bumping his average up to .571 with his fifth-straight, and seventh overall, multi-hit game. His 3-for-4 showing was the fourth time this season he posted three hits. McKown tallied his fifth multi-hit game of the season, all of which have come in his five starts. Paladino led all players with two runs scored.

W&J is scheduled to host Mount Union on Tuesday, March 24 with first-pitch set for 4 p.m. at Ross Memorial Park.