SPOKANE, Wash. - Whitworth University is searching for its first Northwest Conference softball win of 2008 after opening under tremendously difficult circumstances.

Not only did the Pirates have to open the 2008 NWC schedule against defending NWC and NCAA Division III champion Linfield, Whitworth had to do so at a neutral site (instead of at home) and without having the benefit of a single outdoor practice. Not surprisingly the Pirates were swept in the four games to fall to 1-7 overall and 0-4 in the NWC.

This week Whitworth has another difficult challenge ahead, playing at Pacific Lutheran University (6-4 overall, 4-0 NWC). Both doubleheaders (Saturday and Sunday) are scheduled to start at Noon.

Last weekend Whitworth looked like it might get the first NWC win in the first game. The Pirates led 3-1 until Linfield rallied for unearned runs in the fourth (one) and fifth (two) innings. Whitworth tied it in the bottom of the seventh, but the Wildcats scored five in the top of the eighth (four of the runs were unearned) to eventually win 9-6. Seven of the nine Linfield runs were unearned as the rusty Pirates committed four errors. Linfield then won the nightcap 13-3, scoring five in the fourth and five more in the seventh.

Sunday played out in similar fashion. Whitworth led 2-0 for most of the first game before Linfield tied the contest with a pair of runs in the fifth inning. They then scored three runs in the seventh to pull away, including two more unearned runs on a pair of errors. The Wildcats steadily pulled away in the second game to win 13-2 in six innings.