PEORIA, Ariz. - The 2009 season got off to a rough start for the Whitworth baseball team. The Pirates lost their opener 16-5 to Washington and Lee, then fell 11-8 to Brandeis. The tournament games were held at the Peoria Sports Complex, spring training home of the Mariners and Padres.

Washington & Lee 16, Whitworth 5 - Box score

The Generals broke open a 6-5 game with a 10-run seventh inning. Playing on a real field for the first time this season, the Pirates committed five errors that led to several unearned runs.

Chris Bartenhagen doubled and homered for the Pirates, while Luis Tovar had a pair of hits.

Brandeis 11, Whitworth 8 - Box score

Whitworth battled back from an 8-4 deficit to tie the game in the seventh inning. But the Judges scored three runs in the top of the ninth to pull out the win.

Dan Belet and Mitch Nelson each had three hits for the Pirates, one of which was Nelson's first home run of the season that tied the game. Tovar drove in two more runs in the game.

But the Pirates committed four more errors in the game, leading to four unearned runs

Whitworth will take on Hastings (Neb.) at 3:00 p.m. (MST) on Friday afternoon.