SOUTH BEND – Thursday night, both teams pushed through the elements to get in all nine innings. Friday, Mother Nature – and the umpires – only allowed seven innings. Dictated by another day of snow, West Michigan and South Bend got in just seven with the Whitecaps taking a 6-3 victory at frosty Four Winds Field.

Brett Pirtie followed up his big debut Thursday with another huge game Friday, reaching base four times for the Whitecaps. Pirtie had two hits and walked twice, singling in two runs in the third inning and doubling as well. Pirtie was also at the plate in the sixth when West Michigan pulled off a double steal, and a pair of errors on the play allowed two runners to score, pushing the lead to 6-1.

Bryant Flete cut West Michigan’s lead to 6-3 in the sixth with a two-run triple, but South Bend could inch no closer as the snow really began to fall.

The Cubs (0-2) scored its first run in the third on a wild pitch, but also had a runner gunned down at home.

South Bend committed six errors on the night, and have nine in its first two games of the season.

Jordan Smith worked 2.2 innings of relief to get the win for the Whitecaps (2-0), giving up four hits and two runs in his appearance. Fernando Perez struck out seven in the start for the Whitecaps.

Justin Steele worked 3.2 innings for the Cubs in the loss, giving up six hits, three walks and striking out three. Steele allowed four runs, but all were unearned. All six of West Michigan’s runs Friday night were unearned.

The two teams will head to Comstock Park tomorrow for a pair of weekend games, Saturday’s scheduled for 4 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.