ROSEVILLE, Minn. --- Crown College Baseball fell on the wrong side of two one-run games on Monday as they continued their 2021 campaign with a seven-inning non-conference doubleheader against Northwestern (Minn.). In the first contest, the Storm came back from a seven-run deficit to remarkably take the lead. However, the Eagles came back in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game up, eventually taking the contest in the tenth inning. During the second game, the Storm started down 5-1 but reached striking distance with three runs to come within one. Unfortunately, they never could fully close that gap, losing 6-5.
Down seven after two innings, the Storm started scoring in the fourth inning of game one when junior Kyle Schroedle hit a powerful two-run home run over the fence, scoring Bailey Sarto and himself. Still without an out, Chad Herrera, Hunter Felts, and Aaron Clogston all hit singles to load the bases. From there, Nick Schroedle pinch-hit for Crown and added another single to score Herrera. Following that, Mason Brock cleared the bases to end the inning down only 7-6.
The following inning, Felts came up to bat once again and hit his first collegiate home run, a two-run shot that scored Herrera to take the lead for the first time. Senior Bailey Sarto added an RBI double, scoring Spencer Lilienthal, to add another run to hold a 9-7 Crown lead into the bottom of the seventh. Northwestern then countered with two runs to tie up the game and force extras.
In extras, the Storm struggled to string together hits to score a run, stranding two base runners in the eighth and one in the ninth. The Eagles forced the Storm to attempt the rare five-person infield, hoping to force a double play in the bottom of the tenth. However, it was unneeded, with a bases-loaded walk ending the long contest.
Pitching the first contest was first-year Caleb Yowell, who allowed two earned runs and recorded five outs. Fellow first-year Tyler VanCise pitched the next three innings with no runs allowed and two strikeouts. Eric Newman followed VanCise to get out of a jam and had two strikeouts and one hit allowed in his 1.1 innings. Betts came in after Newman, going for three innings with three earned runs and four strikeouts. Bryan Bullock replaced Betts and pitched until the end of the game.
In the second contest, Mason Brock led the game off with a solo home run to take a quick 1-0 lead. After the Eagles came back with five runs in their next two innings, Sarto hit a double to score Betts, who reached on a triple, and Herrera singled up the middle to score Sarto. Lilienthal hit a triple to score Aaron Clogston in the fourth inning and bring the Storm within one.
The Eagles added an insurance run in the sixth, which Northwestern ended up needing as Kyle Schroedle hit his second home run of the day in the top of the seventh to bring Crown within one. However, it wasn't quite enough as Northwestern took the game 6-5.
Starting at pitcher for game two was first-year Kevin Golden, who went two innings allowing three hits and striking out four. Lefty Liam Jones followed Golden with three innings only allowing a single hit and no runs scored. Kyle Schroedle came in to relieve Jones in the sixth inning, allowing one run.
The Storm will continue their season this week, with four games slated at U.S. Bank Stadium. Crown will face Bethel University on Thursday and Augsburg University on Saturday. Fans are not being admitted to U.S. Bank Stadium.
