The Denison baseball team used early offense and a five-run eighth to secure a 10-4 victory over Muskingum in Wednesday's home opener at Big Red Field in Granville.

The Big Red produced runs in their first three trips to the plate to build an early 4-0 lead over the Muskies. Denison sophomore Noah Hahn played a part in the first three runs of the contest. In the first, Hahn scored from third on a wild pitch. The sophomore added to the DU lead with a two-run single to center that scored Tanner Johnson and Sam Frazen. Senior Duncan Moran knocked in the fourth run, Eric Zmuda, on a ground ball to second.

The Muskies cut the deficit in half with single runs in the fourth and fifth, but a Frazen base hit that scored Evan Flax made it a 5-2 game. The Big Red put the game away in the home half of the eight with five runs on the strength of four hits and one Muskingum error.

Johnson ripped a single through the left side the scored Flax, while a one-out base hit up the middle by senior Jake Meegan plated Moran and Frazen. After a walk to Hahn loaded the bases, Zmuda delivered with a two-run single through the left side that scored Meegan and Johnson.

Muskingum was able to push two runs across in the ninth, but three-straight strikeouts by DU freshman Mikey Rivera closed the door on the Big Red victory.

Flax finished with three hits, including a double, and two runs, while Frazen and Johnson each had two hits and two runs scored. Meegan, Hahn and Zmuda all finished with two RBIs. Big Red starter Zack Huarte improved to 2-0 on the year after surrendering two runs (one earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts in eight innings of work.

Matt Lyon, Christian Leitenberger and Nate Meija all collected two hits for the Muskies, while Gavin Gray knocked in a pair with a pinch-hit single in the ninth. Starter Dillon McDermott (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing four runs on three hits in 2.2 innings.

Denison improves to 7-2 with the win, while the loss drops Muskingum to 9-5 on the year. The Big Red returns to action on Saturday (March 26) when they travel to Tiffin, Ohio to take on Heidelberg University. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.