St. Bonifacius, Minn. – The Crown softball team welcomed Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponent Concordia College to campus on Tuesday for their final non-conference tune-up before conference play starts this weekend.  Both games were competitive, but the Cobbers earned a sweep, defeating Crown 5-1 and 10-7.

A steady and consistent offensive effort from the Cobbers helped produce their game one victory, with the visitors slowly building a lead.  Concordia scored one run in first, second, and fifth innings while holding the Crown offense at bay.  The Cobbers scored twice in the top of the sixth to build a 5-0 lead before starting pitcher Cearra Dulaney doubled off the first base bag to bring home Marissa Becerra and pull one back for the Storm.

Crown couldn't get anything else going, however, falling by a final of 5-1.  Dulaney pitched well, striking out seven and scattering 12 hits over seven innings, but Crown could only manage six hits (from six different players) over seven innings.

The Storm bats woke up to start game two, with Crown scoring once in the first and putting up three runs in the second to jump out to a 4-0 lead. 

Concordia found their rhythm in the third, plating two runs, before scoring eight more unanswered to build a 10-4 lead. 

Heading into their last at bat, Crown mounted a furious comeback, scoring three runs and bringing the tying run to the plate before the road team was able to escape with the 10-7 victory.

Janelle Williams was 2-4 with two runs and two RBI to lead the Storm, while Dulaney also collected two hits. 

Crown hosts North Central as the team kicks off conference play this Saturday.  First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.