St. Paul, Minn. – Tuesday night saw Crown softball travel to Northwestern for a rematch of last season's playoff elimination game that saw the Eagles walk-off winners in a classic UMAC matchup. Tuesday night's doubleheader did not disappoint, as the two teams turned in a pair of excellent performances, with both games settled by a single run. The Storm took game one 5-4, while the Eagles recorded another walk-off win, this time in extra innings, to beat Crown 2-1 in game two.
Game one featured the same score line as last year's playoff game, with the opposite result. Crown built a 3-2 lead after two innings, with the Eagles tying things up with a run in the bottom of the fifth.
Cearra Dulaney and
Sarah Petkau each delivered RBI knocks in the sixth to give Crown a two-run advantage, but the Eagles crept closer with a run in the bottom half.
After a scoreless top of the seventh, Crown attempted to protect a one-run lead in the final half inning. Two singles and a walk, sandwiched around a fielder's choice, loaded the bases for the home team with just one out. Dulaney dug deep, getting a huge strikeout to set up the classic bases loaded, two out situation. A pop fly behind second base looked like it might fall in, but centerfielder
Cassidy Valenzuela took charge, coming in to make the play and seal the dramatic win.
Dulaney went the distance, earning her fourth win of the year, finishing with four strikeouts over seven innings.
Sofia Palacios and
Janelle Williams each recorded two hits, while Crown's 6-7-8-9 hitters each scored a run in the win.
Game two was another classic, with
Liz King taking to the circle for the Storm.
Crown jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, just two batters into the game as Williams reached on an infield single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and came in to score on a single from Valenzuela. Unfortunately, and despite some good chances, that would be it for the Storm offense.
The Eagles scored one in the bottom of the fourth to tie the score, eventually setting up extra innings.
Palacios just missed a home run in the top of the eighth, doubling off the wall in center, and a Dulaney line drive to left was caught to end the threat.
Northwestern led off the eighth with a single, and then an error put runners on first and third with no out. Crown was able to record an out on a comebacker, but a walk-off single with one out ended the game
.
King was a tough luck loser in this one, going seven and a third and allowing zero earned runs while striking out four. Williams, Palacios, Valenzuela, and
Hillary Brondsema each had two hits, but Crown stranded nine runners over the eight innings.
The split moves Crown's conference record to 3-1, a great start as the Storm attempt to return to the conference tournament at year's end.
