Ashland, Wis. – The Crown softball team swept Northland College on Saturday to move to 9-3 in conference play and all but lock up a bid to this year's UMAC playoffs.  The wins also move Crown into a three-way tie for second place with Northwestern and UW-Superior as the season enters its final week.

Game one was a rollercoaster, with Crown leading 12-0 before the Lumberjills roared back to tie things at 12-12 with a three run homer run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

Crown rallied to win it in the eighth, with senior Hillary Brondsema delivering a clutch RBI single to score Marissa Becerra. 

Liz King earned the win with eight innings of work on the mound, striking out four batters.

Cassidy Valenzuela led the way offensively, collecting three hits and finishing a home run shy of the cycle, while scoring twice and knocking in three.  Brondsema and Becerra each had two hits.

Game two featured much less drama, but just as much offense and the two teams combined for 25 more runs in the nightcap. 

Crown took the second game 17-8, controlling things for most of the game after a nine run third inning saw them take a 9-2 lead.

Cearra Dulaney earned the win, while Valenzuela and Sarah Petkau each homered as part of three hit games.  Both players scored twice and brought in four, propelling Crown to the big win.

The Storm can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Martin Luther in a home doubleheader that has been moved up to Tuesday the 26^th, and will be looking ahead to a big showdown with St. Scholastica in Duluth on Saturday that will be sure to have major seeding implications.