CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. -- Senior Nick Vento (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) tied the Washington & Jefferson career home run record and recorded his 200th career hit as the Presidents used a 10-run sixth inning to power past Thomas More, 14-9.

With the victory, No. 17 W&J avoids the season sweep at the hands of the Saints and improves to 18-5 overall with a 13-2 mark in the Presidents' Athletic Conference baseball standings.

Vento hit a solo homer in the top of the first inning to put the Presidents on the board for the first time in the series. The Saints responded with two runs in the first, third and fourth innings to take a 6-1 lead into the sixth inning.

The top of the sixth saw W&J nearly bat around twice as 17 men went to the plate. Frank Fortunato (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) doubled to lead off and scored on Mark Melino's (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford) two-run home run. Back-to-back singles by Ryan Sciullo (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area) and Dan Trettel (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) chased the Thomas More starter and Dante Dalesandro (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Luke Zahren (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) delivered a single that scored a run, with another coming in on an error. Adam LaRue (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) was hit by a pitch to lead the bases and bring another pitching change. Derek Helbing (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) ripped a two-run double to give W&J a 7-6 lead and Vento followed with a three-run homer to make it 10-6. A Merlino single put two men on and brought the third pitching change of the inning, and Fortunato scored on a wild pitch for the final run in the inning, 11-6.

Helbing walked to lead off the seventh and stole second before scoring when Merlino reached on an error, 12-6. Thomas More added three runs on a pair of home runs in the bottom of the seventh to get within 12-9.

Dalesandro scored on a balk in the eighth and Helbing hit a solo shot, his fourth of the season, in the ninth to provide the final margin.

Merlino and Fortunato each had three-hit days, with Helbing, Vento and Zahren all recording two base knocks. Vento had four RBI, with Helbing accounting for three RBI and Merlino drove in two runs.

Vento's two home runs gave him 22 in his career, tying Frank Quirin (2008-10) atop the W&J all-time list. He also became just the fifth President to record 200 hits, joining Josh Staniscia (251), Jim Pasquine (221), Joe Bogdewiecz (218) and newly-named W&J Hall of Famer Shaun Pfeil (214).

Bryce Schnatterly (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) picked up the win in relief to improve to 4-0, working 3.0 innings and giving up three runs (one earned) on four hits. Joe Vita (Gibsonia, Pa./Hampton) worked a perfect eighth inning and Tim Mulvey (Glenshaw, Pa./OLSH) struck out the side in the ninth to close the door.

W&J has a pair of mid-week, nonconference doubleheaders this week, first a 2 p.m. start at No. 22 La Roche on Tuesday, April 18.