WALLA  WALLA, Wash. – Visiting Whitworth opened the second half of the Northwest Conference schedule with a 5-2 loss to Whitman College in a men's tennis match on Saturday afternoon.

The Pirates (6-3 overall, 6-2 NWC) had their six-match winning streak snapped, while the Blues (8-1, 8-0) remained unbeaten in conference play and swept this season's Battle of Whits.

Whitman claimed the doubles point with wins on the No. 1 and No. 3 courts. Matt Frosslan and Matt Hossack earned a 6-3 win from the No. 2 position to avoid a doubles sweep.

The first three singles matches went to the Blues in two sets. Alexander Stage's 6-2, 7-5 victory over Matthew Morrison clinched the match victory for Whitman. The Bucs won two of the next three behind tiebreaking performances from Connor Judson and Froslan. Froslan earned a 6-0, 7-6 (7-5) win from the No. 5 position. Judson, who is now 8-0 in NWC singles matches, claimed a 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (11-9) win on the No. 4 court.

The Pirate men will take a break from conference action with a trip to California to battle Redlands and California Lutheran on March 23-24.