WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Washington & Jefferson lost both ends of a nonconference nine-inning doubleheader against Case Western Reserve by a pair of runs, 5-3 and 7-5.

The losses drop the Presidents to 12-10 overall this year, while the Spartans improve to 18-12.

The first game was a pitchers' duel for most of the game, as it took just one hour, 43 minutes to complete nine innings. CWRU got on the board first with a run in the top of the first inning, but the Presidents answered back with a run in the bottom of the second to tie the game. Frank Fortunato and Ryan Sciullo led off with singles and Fortunato came in to score on a wild pitch, 1-1.

It was not until the top of the sixth when the tie would be broken, as a one-out triple led to a run for the Spartans. The guests added two insurance runs that would prove necessary in the top of the eighth off of starter Nick Kolat who went 7.2 innings before being relieved by Clay Martin, the latter's first career appearance. Kolat (1-1) scattered just six hits and four earned run, while striking out two and issuing no walks.

Martin surrendered just one run, a solo homer in the top of the ninth, as CWRU built the lead to 5-1.

W&J tried to mount a rally when Nick Vento led off the ninth with a single and Sciullo hit a one-out homer to left center, but CWRU starter Jake Shields was able to get the next two batters to finish out the complete game and improve to 6-2.

Sciullo and Fortunato each recorded two of W&J's seven hits, while Vento notched a single and Mark Merlino and Dan Trettel both doubled.

In game two, the Spartans struck for two in the top of the first against starter Matt Heslin. The visitors would add another run in the top of the third, before the Presidents were able to knot the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the third. Michael Ruffing and Adam LaRue were hit by pitches to open the frame and Vento drew an intentional walk with one out after the two runners advanced on a wild pitch. Fortunato then delivered a towering sacrifice fly to center field and Sciullo greeted CWRU's new pitcher with a two-run single down the right-field line.

CWRU brought in a new pitcher to start the fourth inning and Ruffing welcomed him with a double down the right-field line. With two outs, Vento blasted his third homer of the season, a laser beam to left center that put the Presidents ahead for the first time, 5-3.

Heslin surrendered a pair of runs in the sixth inning, but worked through to finish with the longest outing of his career, 6.0 innings, scattering nine hits and five earned runs, with two strike outs and two hit batters in earning the no-decision.

James Trainor (0-1) took the loss in relief of his first career appearance, surrendering a run in his second inning of work after a 1-2-3 seventh inning. Santino Platt gave up an unearned run in the top of the ninth for his first collegiate appearance and solidified the 7-5 final.

Sciullo again had two hits and two RBI in the night cap, Vento had a hit, scored twice and drove in two, plus posted a walk for the fourth-straight game and 11th game this season he's earned a free pass.

W&J will return to Presidents' Athletic Conference play with a three-game series against Thiel this weekend, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 16 at 1 p.m. in Greenville, Pa.