Mankato, Minn. – for the third time in a week, the Crown baseball team played a tough game against UMAC opponent Bethany Lutheran.  The Vikings got the better of the Storm this time, winning 4-1 in the rubber match of their season series.

Crown couldn't get much going offensively on Thursday, collecting just five hits through nine innings.

Jonathan Matity and Ryan Denison combined to throw eight solid innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits, six walks, and four strikeouts combined.

Daryl Taylor brought home Joel Silva with a sacrifice fly in the third to tie the game at 1-1, but Crown wouldn't score again and the Vikings added three runs in the fifth to secure the win.

Heading into the final series of the season, a three game set with Northwestern, the Storm will need to sweep the Eagles and get help from both North Central and Northland to make the playoffs.  While not statistically impossible, it will be a tall order for the Storm to make the postseason tournament.