HILLSBORO, Ore.  Sunday's doubleheader at Ron Tonkin Field between Whitman and host Pacific (Ore.) University was twice interrupted by rain, and neither gave the Blues a reprieve as the Boxers were able to make a sweep of the day with 4-2 and 6-1 victories.

The little things haunted Whitman (4-4, 1-2 NWC) in the opener but pitching from the Pacific (7-2, 2-1) staff earned the nightcap victory, shortened to six innings because of the second rain interruption.

The Blues were the first team on the scoreboard Sunday, using a lead-off walk to Brett Williams to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning of Game 1.

Anthony Lim moved Williams over with a sacrifice bunt, Joseph Zimmer put runners on the corners with a single, and Nick Johnson doubled into right field to bring in Williams.

A lead-off walk surrendered by Whitman starter Travis Craven in the bottom half of the inning led to the same result, however. A balk moved the runner up, a sac bunt pushed him to third, and a one-out ground out to the right side brought in the tying run.

In both the bottom of the second and fifth Pacific was able to work for a run in each inning, both unearned, in frames that included just one hit each.

Whitman cut into the three-run deficit with a run in the top of the ninth, with another lead-off walk for Williams initiating the action. A pair of walks followed to pack the bags full, setting up Adrian Vela who reached safely with an RBI on a fielder's choice grounder to third. With one out the Blues had the tying run at first base in Vela, but Pacific recorded the next two outs without the ball leaving the infield to stave off the Whitman rally.

Craven (0-1) took the loss throwing 5.0 innings and allowing four runs, two unearned on four hits, three walks and three strikeouts. Jimmy Smiley came on in relief to start the sixth and threw two scoreless innings to keep Whitman close.

Game 2 saw the Boxers jump out to a lead against the Blues' John Lyon who surrendered two runs, one unearned, in the frame. 

The deficit grew in the third when Pacific strung together three consecutive hits with runners already on base to plate three more, and then they added another in the fifth after a two-out walk kept the inning alive.

Throughout those innings Boxers starter Alden Prentice and reliever Drew Fagerness were keeping the Whitman bats silent, allowing only three base runners -- all by walks -- over the first five innings. A one-out walk surrendered to Williams followed by an error and a wild pitch bringing home Williams prevented the shutout.

Williams scored all three runs for the Blues Sunday, doing what a lead-off batter is supposed to do -- get on base. He worked Pacific pitchers for five walks and added in a single, failing to reach safely only twice.

Sunday's opening game counted within league standings, but the second game was part of a non-conference series that was supposed to have kicked off the season but was postponed due to weather.

The Blues play their home opener Saturday at Borleske Stadium in a doubleheader against visiting Whitworth University. The same teams return Sunday to Borleske for a single outing.