DULUTH, Minn. — Crown played close with St. Scholastica today, but ultimately fell short 4-5. Crown plays tomorrow at 2 pm in Duluth in an elimination game. 

While St. Scholastica struck first with a run in the bottom of the first inning, Crown came back with a score of their own after Laryssa Vik walked and went around the bases on wild pitches. Kailee Leathers started the game for the Storm, and only allowed one run in five innings, and had four straight innings of shutout ball after the first inning Saints run. However, late runs gave her the loss in the matchup. 

Leathers hit in Lottie Ellis with a single up the middle at the top of the sixth inning for the Storm to take a 2-1 lead. Ellis reached on a single of her own earlier in the inning and advanced to third when Laryssa Vik hit a single. 

Crown held the 2-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning, where pitcher Leathers loaded the bases, and Lis King came in to attempt to oust the favorable Saints position. However, Crown allowed four runs and St. Scholastica took a 2-5 lead. In the top of the seventh, Crown was able to score two runs as Lottie Ellis hit home both Cassidy Valenzuela and Marissa Carter. However, the inning stopped there, as Crown fell to the Saints for the third time this season 4-5. 

Crown now plays at 2 pm tomorrow in an elimination game facing the winner of the upcoming UW-Superior/Bethany Lutheran game.