SPOKANE, Wash. - Whitworth University gets back outside this weekend when the Pirate baseball team travels to McMinnville, Oregon to take on Linfield College in a four game Northwest Conference series. The Wildcats (6-3, 2-2) are the 2008 favorites, according to the preseason coaches poll.

The Buc baseball team is looking forward to getting out of the Whitworth Fieldhouse. The Pirates (3-7 overall, 2-2 NWC) have been forced inside all season by the blanket of snow that still covers Merkel Field. Whitworth has yet to practice once outside, but the Bucs still have played ten games in 2008.

Last weekend Whitworth "hosted" the University of Puget Sound in a four game series in Lewiston, Idaho, splitting with the Loggers despite the lack of outside practice.

Saturday's doubleheader was played at Harris Field on the campus of Lewis-Clark State College. The Pirates relied on the strong arm of Chad Flett in the opener to win 6-0. Flett went eight innings, allowing only three hits while walking three batters and striking out six. Mitch Ramsey and Billy Rigsby each drove in a pair of runs for Whitworth, while Jon Whiteside scored twice.

Things did not work out as well in Saturday's nightcap as the Pirates fell 20-1. UPS starting pitcher Dusty Kauflin went the distance, allowing only two hits. Ramsey drove in Whiteside in the bottom of the first with Whitworth's only run. Seven Pirate errors contributed to ten unearned runs for the Loggers.

Sunday's doubleheader, this time played at Church Field, began with a 7-4 Pirate victory. Jon Hauck pitched 3.1 innings of scoreless relief of starter Michael Cozad to pick up his first win of the season. Scott Ward and Dan Belet each drove in a pair of runs for the Bucs, who pulled away from a 4-4 tie with two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth. Matt Monahan had a pair of hits and scored twice.

Whitworth might have let one get away in Sunday's night cap. Leading 6-3, Whitworth allowed a four run rally in the top of the fourth inning which they helped with a pair of errors that led to a pair of unearned runs. UPS added three more runs in the fifth to pull away for an 11-6 win. Belet, Whiteside and Flett each had a pair of hits for the Pirates, while Monahan drove in two runs.

This weekend's series will include a pair of nine-inning games on Saturday, and two seven-inning games on Sunday. Both doubleheaders begin at Noon. Last weekend Linfield split a four game series at defending NWC Champion Pacific Lutheran.