Roseville, Minn. – The Crown softball team took on Bethany Lutheran and Martin Luther on day two of the UMAC Crossover event, with both games hosted at Northwestern (Minn.).  After a weather delay to start the day, the Storm dropped game one 9-2 against the Vikings before holding on to beat the Knights 12-11 in an extremely exciting contest.

Bethany Lutheran scored the first seven runs of the game through five innings before Crown was able to get on the board thanks to an Ashley Earick RBI single and a Kiara Hurt run scoring double.  Hurt and Maria Lilienthal each had two hits and Liz Kemp went 3-3 for Crown. 

Game two featured early offense from the Storm as Crown put up six unanswered runs to start the game before MLC struck back with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the third inning. 

After two scoreless innings, the fireworks started.  Crown hung a five spot in the top of the sixth with MLC only able to muster two runs in the bottom half.  Leading by a score of 11-6 heading into the seventh, Crown added an insurance run in their half to take a 12-6 lead.  That run would prove to be massive as the Knights scored five times in the bottom of the seventh.

Lindsay Glover came on to earn the save, recording the final out after giving up a pair of hits to end the game with the tying run on second base.

Each team had 15 hits in the contest, but eight MLC errors proved costly as Crown took the narrow victory.

Abbey Underdahl started and completed 6.2 innings, striking out four to earn the win.

At the plate, all nine starters recorded hits, led by three each from Lilienthal and Earick.  Ally Adams scored three runs out of the leadoff spot and Underdahl led the way with three RBI in the game. 

The win brings Crown's UMAC record to 4-6 and places them two wins behind Minnesota Morris for fourth place in the standings.  The Storm, needing to play make-up games due to the weather, will travel to Northland College for a double-header tomorrow, 4/24.