DAVENPORT, Fla. – The Washington & Jefferson College baseball team dropped a 12-8 decision to seventh-ranked Wisconsin-La Crosse in its Spring Break opener Sunday afternoon at Northeast Regional Park in Davenport, Fla.
 
The Presidents drop to 2-6 overall. The Eagles, who advanced to the D-III College World Series last season, improve to 4-2 overall. 
 
UW-La Crosse struck first with a three-spot in the top of the first. Two defensive miscues by the Presidents led to three unearned runs in the top of the second. 
 
W&J got a run back in the bottom of the second. Scout Zaas (Powell, Ohio / Wellington School) opened the frame with a single before advancing to third on a double by Josh Dezenzo (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington) a batter later. After a strikeout by the next hitter, Eli Owens (Alexandria, Va. / West Potomac) singled home Zaas. 
 
UWL responded with a solo home run in the top of the third to extend its lead to 7-1. The Eagles added three more runs on a three-run bases clearing triple in the fourth inning. 
 
W&J loaded the bases in the fourth inning. A leadoff double by Dezenzo opened the inning. Later in the frame, Jacob LaDuca (Clarence, N.Y. / Canisius) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Dezenzo. 
 
The Presidents scored a pair of runs in each of the final three innings. W&J strung together three-straight hits in the bottom of the seventh. LaDuca led off with a single before Drew Garth (Glenshaw, Pa. / North Hills) doubled to right field. Nolan Lutz (McDonald, Pa. / South Fayette) followed with a two-run double that scored LaDuca and Garth. 
 
Zac Stern (Coraopolis, Pa. / Montour) picked up his first collegiate hit in the eighth inning. Stern slugged a two-run pinch hit home run to trim the deficit to 12-6. 
 
W&J scored a pair of runs in the ninth. Lutz and Dezenzo both singled during the final inning. 
 
Dezenzo and Lutz finished with three hits apiece to pace the offense. 
 
Anthony Pass (Clinton, Pa. / West Allegheny) started and suffered the loss on the mound. 
 
W&J returns to action on Monday (March 18) with a doubleheader versus Framingham State at Lake Myrtle Field 7 in Auburndale, Fla. Both ends of the twin-bill are set for seven innings. First pitch is set for 11:30 a.m.