The same is true for GW baseball, though the Colonials have been playing for a month and a half since their opening day in Jacksonville, Fla.

Since then, the Colonials have gone 8-17, struggling to close out games while playing one of the toughest non-conference schedules in recent program history. The team’s lone goal, however, is to win the Atlantic 10 Championship, and the path to doing so starts with the conference season.

That season started Friday, at home against La Salle with a clean slate. On this particular opening day, the Colonials got a win, 4-3, led by four-year senior pitcher Bobby “The Bull” LeWarne.

“First half of the season we haven’t been what we wanted to,” LeWarne said. “But, now that the conference starts, this is where you have to really get wins. It’s very, very important. It’s a lot different honestly.”

LeWarne, though, gave up the lead early.

In the second inning the Explorers scored one run. After a single and a steal, with two outs, La Salle’s seven-hole hitter grounded a ball to short. Junior Kevin Mahala lost the ball as the base runner crossed in front of him, allowing the run to score.

GW then sat down 1-0 until the fourth inning. That’s when the Colonials found their hitting shoes at home. They scored two in the fourth and two in the fifth, which would be just good enough for the win.

“We all talked about it. ‘The slate’s clean. Take the experience of what you went through, understand the adversity that you were challenged with and embrace it. Embrace it and let’s go into A-10 and we’re 0-0. Here we go.’,” head coach Gregg Ritchie said. “So, it’s good to get one out of the shoot.”

Ritchie wanted LeWarne to finish. He gave him the opportunity to close it out, but Le Warne hit a batter on an 0-2 pitch with two outs, extending the inning. He then gave up a base hit to allow one run in the ninth, exiting with two runners on and clinging to a one run lead.

Junior Eddie Muhl closed it out. On his sixth pitch, last year’s regular season NCAA saves leader forced a comebacker to the mound, threw over to first and locked up the win.

LeWarne would finish with the final line of 8.2 innings, six hits, three runs, two earned and three strikeouts, on 123 pitches.

It was what GW needed in a non-conference season riddled by bullpen issues. The starter went nearly the whole way and the closer finished it off.

“We have to be calm going in and not too excited because then we get tightened up,” LeWarne said. “As long as we keep playing loose we keep winning.”

The offense helped out in the middle innings, peaked by a two-run RBI base knock by junior Bobby Campbell. He punched the ball back up the middle, allowing junior Joey Bartosic and sophomore Robbie Metz to score. It was an opportunity created after a double-steal by the duo, who caught the La Salle team sleeping on defense.

“Knowing the way Bobby is pitching all game any run, one run, makes a huge difference for him,” Campbell said. “Just trying to help Bob out.”

The lineup did see a slight change for opening day. Junior Gabe Scott started in place of sophomore Mark Osis in left field. It was Scott’s first start, and ninth game played this season.

Osis will likely be out for at least the next two weeks with a hamstring pull, unavailable to play left field but potentially able to pitch hit. He pulled the hamstring attempting to go first to third, Tuesday against UMBC.

“So that made my heart drop a little bit,” Ritchie said. “Another adversity.”

Osis was leading the team in batting average (.389) and hits (37), was second in stolen bases (6) and third in RBI (15).

Meanwhile, Mahala is day-to-day after aggravating a hip flexor injury Friday rounding the bases to score the Colonials’ first run of the game. He may be in Saturday’s lineup.

GW will continue conference play against La Salle this weekend at The Tuck. Sophomore Robbie Metz will likely get the start Saturday at 1 p.m. and then senior Jacob Williams will likely be on the bump Sunday for the 12 p.m. game.