PORTLAND, Ore. -- Sydney Cross went deep in each game and Samantha Gildersleeve hit another homer to give the Lewis & Clark Pioneers a grand total of 10 and a sweep in the four-game series with the Willamette Bearcats at Huston Sports Complex. It's Lewis & Clark's first Northwest Conference series sweep since 2017.

Cross and Gildersleeve hit back-to-back home runs in the opening inning to go ahead 4-1, and Alyssa Abe threw her second straight complete-game win by a final of 4-2.

In the finale, Lewis & Clark won 10-3 with a three-RBI performance by Cross on her eighth homer of the season. Kami Merrill and Mari Alvarez had two RBI apiece. Jane Wilson threw three innings without allowing a run and was replaced by Cassidy Crusberg who picked up the win with three innings pitched. Kylie Hill threw one inning of scoreless relief as well.

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Key Moments | Game 1

The Bearcats (3-15, 2-10 NWC) got on the scoreboard first with an RBI single by Bailey Hillmick. Willamette had more success in the early innings with an RBI single in the fourth by Gianna Marchese. 

Still, the Pioneers hit two home runs in the opening inning to establish a three-run lead, and Abe retired the final 10 batters. The Pioneers defense was superb as Abe didn't finish the game with a strikeout. Olivia Brackin had an unassisted double play.

Lewis & Clark (9-5, 5-3 NWC) had fewer hits than Willamette and both teams stranded four runners. 

Key Moments | Game 2

The Pioneers were more dominant in the second game and took a significant lead with a six-run second inning. Lewis & Clark used a two-RBI double by Mari Alvarez and Cross' three-run home run to move ahead 7-1 by the start of the third. Kalea Kaui and Merrill led off the inning with a single and a walk, respectively. The Pios sent 11 batters up in the inning and chased Hillmick out of the circle after one inning of work. 

Crusberg won the game after three innings of relief, a strikeout and three runs on seven hits. Wilson started the game and faced 10 batters without yielding a run. All three pitchers, including Hill in the final frame, had a strikeout. The Pioneers went without an error for the fourth time in their last six games.

"I'm really proud of this team," Pios head coach Shawna Cyrus said. "This is the most well-rounded team I've coached at Lewis & Clark, and I'm excited to see how far we can get."

Merrill's hit scored two on a double in the fourth, while Jordyn Vierra scored on a wild pitch in the sixth. 10 Pios had hits in the finale.

Deeper Look

• Lewis & Clark posted double-digit hits in three of the four games against the Bearcats
• The Pioneers last NWC sweep was at Pacific in Apr. 2017
• Jenson, who had her first multi-hit game of the series in Sunday's finale, continues to lead the Pioneers in batting average (.392)
• Six Pios have a batting average of .340 or better (with at least 20 at-bats), and Kai Pinera is hitting .417 on 12 at-bats
• Cross ranks second in the NWC for homers (8) and leads all others in slugging percentage (1.000), while Abe is tied for fourth with four wins and is one of three pitchers in the conference with a save

Looking Ahead

The Pios travel to Linfield next weekend. Linfield has been ranked No. 1 in the last two NFCA Division III Top 25 Polls. The Wildcats had their 18-game win streak snapped last weekend and will enter the series with a 22-2 overall record.