PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Lewis & Clark Pioneers hit seven home runs in a pair of wins over the Willamette Bearcats to open a four-game series on Friday at Huston Sports Complex.

Sydney Cross hit her fifth and sixth of the season, one shy of the Northwest Conference lead, while Samantha Gildersleeve had one in each game. A total of seven home runs is likely unprecedented for the Pioneers.

Alyssa Abe earned a complete-game win in the opener. She struck out three, allowed one run on five hits and a walk against 28 batters. Abe finished the final inning of the second game after Jane Wilson threw six innings, gave up five runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts.

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Key Moments | Game 1

Lewis & Clark (7-5, 3-3 NWC) paced the game from beginning-to-end for a 6-1 victory in Friday's opener. Cross' two-run home run was paired with the first from Gildersleeve against Willamette starter Bailey Hillmick. 

Olivia Brackin and Cross each finished 3 for 4, while Gildersleeve went 3 for 3, and Cross tallied four RBI. Brackin hit a third-inning home run to extend the Pios lead to 4-1 at the time. Cross hit a solo shot in the fifth and singled for another RBI in the sixth.

"Seeing our team hit the ball the way they have been -- especially our big, middle of the order -- was really cool because it is something that we've been pushing to see," Pios head coach Shawna Cyrus said. "It was really good to see not just a bunch of solo home runs, but in big situations. They looked relaxed and not pressing, so it was a good glimpse of the kind of team we really are."

Braylin Jenson and Abe each had a double in the win.

Key Moments | Game 2

Jane Wilson joined Brackin, Cross and Gildersleeve with multiple hits in a 9-5 win during game two. Wilson joined Kalea Kaui with their first career home runs to go with the homer from Gildersleeve. Wilson's was a three-RBI knock to put the Pios on the board, and two batters later, Kaui brought in two more runs to give the Pios a five-run second inning. Lewis & Clark added three in the sixth to secure the win.

Wilson allowed four hits in the opening inning before the same amount over the next five. In the seventh, the first three hitters reached base, so Abe replaced Wilson and picked up the final three outs.

Gildersleeve and Wilson had three RBI apiece. Kami Merrill hit a sacrifice fly and went 1 for 2. 

Deeper Look

• Jordyn Vierra had her first career hit in the second game
• It is the third time in Cross' career that she's had four RBI in a game
• The Pioneers have never had seven home runs in a two-game stretch since the modern stats tracking began in 2013
• Hannah Urbach and Lindsey Flegel started at catcher in the games as part of the outstanding pitching performances 

Looking Ahead

The teams conclude their series beginning at 12 p.m. on Saturday