McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Two teams out on a mission to lock up spots in the Northwest Conference tournament men’s tennis tournament handed Linfield a pair of solid home-court defeats Saturday and Sunday at the Linfield Tennis Center.

SATURDAY: WHITWORTH 9, LINFIELD 0
The Pirates (10-6, 7-3) assured themselves of at least fourth place in the final team standings with their lopsided win over the Wildcats.

Zach Lyons and Micah Roos (Soph., Port Angeles, Wash.) put up the stiffest competition at Nos. 1 and 2 singles, respectively, forcing tiebreakers in the first set of each of their matches. Whitworth’s Daniel Redfern and Cameron Williams got the wins, however, by the respective scores of 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 and 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.

Matt Baurichter played with the varsity squad for the first time in his career, but lost at No. 6 singles to Chris Englemann 6-1, 6-0.

SUNDAY: WHITMAN 9, LINFIELD O
The Missionaries, Division III’s ninth-ranked team, had little difficulty dispatching the Wildcats (2-15, 2-8 NWC). Whitman claimed all three doubles matches, two by 8-0 scores, and all six singles flights in straight sets to remain undefeated in league action.

Chris Colvin, Tyler Day and Kadin Hashimoto (Jr., Sherwood, Ore.) all played in consecutive matches for the first time in their careers. Day also got his first career doubles starts against Whitworth and Whitman.

NEXT: The ‘Cats play their final two Northwest Conference matches on the road, traveling up to Tacoma for a 4 p.m. match Friday against Puget Sound before coming back down to Forest Grove for a noon match Saturday against Pacific. Linfield defeated Puget Sound 6-3 in the first go-around between the two clubs in early March.