DULUTH, Minn. --- Crown Baseball's historic season came to an end on Thursday afternoon as the fifth-seeded Storm fell in the first round of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Playoffs, 4-1, to the fourth-seeded UW-Superior Yellowjackets. The Storm end their season with the most wins in Crown's NCAA-era, the longest winning streak, and the first UMAC Playoff appearance in the second season under Head Coach Ryan Doheny. 

In this cold matchup, barely avoiding the forecasted rain and snow at the St. Scholastica-hosted tournament in Duluth, the Storm had sophomore ace Sydney Ness on the mound. Ness was a only a single out from a quality start, with three earned runs in 5.2 innings, striking out one. It was first-year pitcher Rico Avila who relieved Ness, and he pitched 2.0 innings with one earned run. Junior pitcher Eric Newman relieved Avila for the final out of the contest. 

The Storm's lone run came in the top of the third after first-year outfielder Derek Albers singled to start the inning. Sophomore shortstop Seth Betts singled to advance Albers to second, and a sacrifice bunt by freshman Chad Herrera advanced Albers to third. Finally, junior second baseman Bailey Sarto was able to score Albers with some help from the Yellowjackets' third baseman. 

Crown Baseball's season may have ended, but certainly has a bright future as they look to return several key pieces with plenty of youth.