Duluth, Minn. – The Crown College Softball team was making their first appearance in the UMAC postseason tournament on Friday, and despite losing both games to be eliminated on day one, represented themselves extremely well.  Crown lost their opening game to 21-0 St. Scholastica by a score of 8-0 and fell to Northwestern in heartbreaking fashion, 5-4.

The Storm were overwhelmed by St. Scholastica in game one as the regular season champions hit three home runs and allowed just a single hit. 

Sofia Palacios singled in the top of the second for Crown's lone glimmer of offense.  The Saints ended the game in the bottom of the fifth when their third home run eclipsed the eight run mark, ending the game by run rule.

Crown turned right back around, facing Northwestern, who had lost 1-0 to Minnesota Morris earlier in the day, in the tournament's first elimination game.

The Storm were solid defensively early, but couldn't wake up the bats, recording just one hit through the first four innings.

Thankfully, the Northwestern bats were also quiet and the Storm's lone hit produced a brief lead when Number 26 singled home Taylor Urcuyo in the top of the third.

The Eagles would answer back in the bottom half, tying the score at 1-1 before the team's each recorded scoreless fourth innings.

Crown found some magic with two outs in the fifth, stringing together four straight hits to blow the game open.  Kate McLaughlin started things out with a single to right field and scored on a Palacios double.  Cassidy Valenzuela hit her record 12^th double of the year to trade places with Palacios and Marissa Becerra singled her home immediately after.

Those four hits brought in three runs and gave Crown a 4-1 advantage
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The Eagles would not go quietly however, getting two runs back in the bottom of frame, and tying the score at 4-4 an inning later.  With both team's seasons on the line, the seventh inning would prove to be the deciding factor.

Crown made three outs on just three pitches in the top of the seventh and faced the specter of Northwestern's 3-4-5 hitters due up in the bottom half.

UMAC RBI leader Jen Ankrom led off with a single and was lifted for a pinch runner.  After a sacrifice bunt put the winning run in scoring position, Erica Brahan walked the Eagles off, doubling home the deciding run and giving Northwestern the 5-4 victory.

Cearra Dulaney pitched extremely well in the loss, going six and third innings while giving up 11 hits and a walk, and striking out three.  26, who finished the year hitting .398 had two hits to lead the Storm offensively.

Despite the disappointing finish, the Crown softball team had a record shattering 2015 season, culminating in the program's first ever conference tournament appearance.  With the majority of the roster returning next season, the future is very bright.

A full recap of the 2015 season will be available shortly.