SPOKANE, Wash. - So much for Merkel Field. One day after getting to play at home for the first time during the 2008 season and celebrating with a Northwest Conference doubleheader sweep of Pacific University, the Whitworth University baseball team had to move across town to play at Gonzaga Prepartory's field because of overnight snowfall. And it was the visiting Boxers (7-9 overall, 6-6 NWC) who felt right at home as they swept the Pirates (5-13, 4-8) 11-3 and 10-6 on Sunday afternoon.

GAME 1 - Box score

Pacific belted six home runs and scored in every inning but the fourth while routing Whitworth 11-3. Matt Hendrix hit two run home runs in both the first and fourth innings to key the attack. Leadoff hitter Jeff Johnston had a two run shot in the second and Joey Pulito added a two run shot in the third as the Boxers grabbed a 9-0 lead throught the top of the fourth.

Andrew Curtain hit the final home run of the day for Pacific, a solo shot, in the top of the sixth inning. He finished with three hits in the game.

Jason Reed pitched all seven innings for the Boxers, allowing three runs on seven hits. He struck out three and walked three, improving to 2-1 on the season.

Dan Ramsey and Mitch Nelson each had a pair of hits to lead the Pirates at the plate. Ryan Snell took the loss on the mound, falling to 0-3 this season.

GAME 2 - Box score

Pacific built a 6-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning, then held off Whitworth to win 10-6. Zach Gantenbein provided the deciding blow with a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning.

After Whitworth scratched out a run in the first, Johnston singled home a pair for Pacific in the second inning. A pair of bases-loaded walks sent home two more runs in the third inning for the Boxers. They made it 6-1 in the top of the fifth with a pair of two-out runs.

Whitworth got two back in the bottom of the fifth when Jon Whiteside's single got past the rightfielder, driving in Mac Collette and allowing Dan Belet to score from first.

Gantenbein's three-run home run highlighted Pacific's four-run seventh inning, which provided the Boxers a 10-3 cushion. The rally proved crucial as Whiteside smacked his own three-run shot in the bottom of the inning to pull the Bucs within 10-6.

Brandon Larson improved to 2-2 with 8.1 innings of work, allowing six runs on eight hits. Austin Knighton took the loss for the Pirates, falling to 0-1.

The Boxers return home to host a non-conference game against Corban College on Tuesday. Whitworth will hit the road to Portland to take on Lewis & Clark College in a four-game NWC series next weekend.