McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- A pair of losses by two runs or less rounded out the Lewis & Clark Pioneers series against the No. 1 Linfield Wildcats on Sunday at Del Smith Stadium.

After a complete-game shutout on Saturday, Alyssa Abe allowed four runs on seven hits with a strikeout and walk in Sunday's opener. Samantha Gildersleeve had a double for the Pioneers.

In the finale, the Pioneers were held to five hits, but scored three runs including two RBI from Jules Henderson. Jane Wilson gave up four runs on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings. 

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Key Moments | Game 1

Kami Merrill and Lily Moffitt had an RBI apiece as the Pioneers lost the opener 4-2. Lewis & Clark stranded three of its four baserunners in the first two innings. Mari Alvarez led off the first with a single and Sydney Cross earned a two-out walk. In the second, Gildersleeve led off with a double, and Hannah Urbach made it runners on the corners with a single. Merrill hit a sacrifice fly to score one.

In the sixth, Moffitt followed Olivia Brackin's leadoff single with her own that scored Brackin after a stolen base. Gildersleeve struck out and Jordyn Vierra was thrown out at second base to end the inning.

Linfield's Tayah Kelley, who won Saturday's second game, threw a complete game for the win and struck out four. 

Key Moments | Game 2

Henderson's single turned into a score that gave the Pioneers a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning during a 4-3 defeat in the finale. Henderson singled in Sierra Gundersen and Gildersleeve, and was able to score on an error charged to the catcher. Gildersleeve drew a two-out walk, and Wilson hit a single before she was replaced on the base paths by Gundersen. 

Prior to the fourth inning, the Pioneers first eight batters were retired in order by Linfield starter Maddy Podnar. Alvarez walked, and Braylin Jenson singled with a bunt, to get the Pios some momentum leaving the third. A single by Gildersleeve, who finished 1 for 2 with a run scored, and Alvarez's second walk were the only other baserunners for the Pioneers.

Meanwhile, Lewis & Clark held Linfield to four runs by stranding seven Wildcats baserunners on their 10 hits. Lewis & Clark did not commit an error in the finale. 

"We proved that we not only can make it to the NWC tournament, but we can beat any team in the conference when we play our game," Pios head coach Shawna Cyrus said after Saturday's 6-0 win at Linfield. "I was very proud of Abe's effort on the mound."

"We came into the first game fired up and ready with something to prove," Abe said following her game one victory. "We did so by beating one of the top teams in the conference and NCAA Division III."

Deeper Look

• Cross was held without a home run for the first time in any NWC series this year, but still leads the team in average (.377)
• Gildersleeve moved to .333 on the season, which matches Jenson
• Abe ranks among the top five in the conference with five wins and in earned-run average this season

Looking Ahead

The Pioneers head to Pacific Lutheran next weekend.