PORTLAND, Ore. -- Sammy Benbow's first career home run lifted the Lewis & Clark Pioneers to a 5-3 win over the Willamette Bearcats on Saturday in the Northwest Conference home opener at Huston Sports Complex.

Benbow hit a three-run homer in the sixth to help the Pios overcome a two-run deficit. He also earned the save following reliever Dylan Moore, who earned the win after 2 1/3 innings of relief for starter Noah Ferruggia. Tyler Gannon and Benbow both went 2 for 3 from the plate. Gannon scored two runs.

The Pioneers were trailing 10-0 when the second game was halted in the sixth inning. It will resume on Sunday.

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Key Moments

Singles by Zack Kon and Gannon started the Pioneers off nicely to begin the sixth. With two on, Justin Katona reached on a fielder's choice to keep two on when Benbow came to bat. He sent a pitch from Bearcats starter Justin Miller over the left-centerfield wall to give Lewis & Clark (3-8, 1-3 NWC) its first lead of the game. Miller left following the at-bat after 5 1/3 innings, five runs on eight hits and three strikeouts.

Willamette (5-6, 2-2 NWC) led three separate times. Two of the four Pios errors allowed Justin Scanlon to score in the first for a 1-0 lead, and Joey Faudskar to score in the fifth for a 3-2 edge. In between, Scanlon singled in Faudskar in the third that gave Willamette a 2-0 margin.

Jacob Serafini scored on Jack Thomson's groundout in the third, and Benbow hit a sacrifice fly that scored Gannon in the fourth for the Pios' runs before Benbow's sixth-inning blast.

"Loved seeing our guys battle back after a tough series last weekend," Pios head coach Matt Kosderka said. "We really struggled at home last year, so it was nice to see us win the first one.

"Considering we really didn't play a clean game defensively, it was nice that our offense picked up the slack. We had a bunch of good swings, and Benbow's homer couldn't have come at a better time."

Deeper Look

• Michael Contreras drew two walks, while Serafini picked up one
• Justin Bailey, Sam Helms, Katona and Kon also had his for the Pioneers
• Serafini's was a double to go with a two-bagger from Benbow and Gannon as well
• Bailey and Katona also added sacrifice bunts, and Bailey earned a stolen base
• Scanlon had the only multi-hit game for the Bearcats
• Mason Cook pitched the final 2 2/3 innings for the Bearcats and didn't allow a run on one hit

Looking ahead

The second game of the doubleheader was halted in the bottom of the sixth and will be concluded on Sunday. Play resumes at 11 a.m. followed by the third game of the series at 1 p.m.