WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College baseball team (1-0) opened its 2026 campaign with an emphatic 26-6 victory over the visiting La Roche Redhawks.
 
The 26 runs scored are the most the Presidents have put up since the 2009 season where W&J went on to defeat Bethany, 27-2.
 
The Presidents were led by the efforts of Zac Stern (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) and Josh Dezenzo (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington). Stern finished the day a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs batted in and a walk. Dezenzo launched the Presidents first homerun of the season this afternoon, finishing the day 1-for-2 with two walks along with two RBIs. Keegan Carr (Irwin, Pa./Norwin / Indiana University of Pennsylvania), Rhys Arnold (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park), and Tommy Dietrich (Davidsonville, Md./DeMatha Catholic) also contributed two hits each. Jack Anderson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) led the team in RBIs with three.
 
After a triple by the Redhawks scored two to open the scoring in the top of the third, the Presidents responded in the bottom of the frame with five runs of their own. Carr scored on a fielder's choice to put up the Presidents first run of the season, 1-0. A Stern single and Anderson hit by pitch gave the Presidents the lead, which was held for the remainder of the opener.
 
W&J got right back to work in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings, adding 12 runs between the two frames. Andrew Miko (Portage, Pa./Portage) and Anderson each reached on hits and scored through pitching miscues from the Redhawks in the fourth to extend the W&J advantage to 10-2. Dezenzo hit a two-run homer to right center field to highlight the fifth inning scoring.
 
After trading runs with La Roche in the sixth inning, W&J went on to score an additional eight runs before cooling off in the final two innings, 26-6. A multitude of players, including some of the youngest Presidents on the roster were able to see the field with the large advantage over the Redhawks. W&J racked up 13 total walks on the night with five batters being hit.
 
Justin Giarrusso (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) picked up the victory for the Presidents in 2.0 scoreless innings pitched with two strikeouts. Nate Nolan (McDonald, Pa./West Allegheny) picked up the start for the Presidents and pitched efficiently in 3.0 innings, working to one strikeout. Brady Dojonovic (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) and Max Stanger (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph Collegiate) each picked up two punchouts in an inning or less of work on the mound.
 
The Presidents look to host the W&J Invitational featuring the visiting Scranton Royals and the No. 11 ranked Case Western Reserve Spartans across two days of action. The Presidents kick off the invite with a 10:00 a.m. clash with Scranton on Saturday (Feb. 28) followed by a 4:00 p.m. matchup with CWRU at Ross Memorial Park.