St. Peter, Minn. – The Crown baseball team played a unique game against Gustavus on Wednesday, winning 8-5 and using nine pitchers, one for each inning, as the team prepares for a vital series against UW-Superior this coming weekend. 

Crown saw most of their familiar faces on the offensive side get some more at-bats, but got nine different players on the mound against the MIAC opponent.

Crown led 3-2 after the first, and despite some attempts from the Gusties, never relinquished the lead, scoring twice in the fifth, once in the eighth, and twice more in the top of the ninth inning.
Kyle Schroedle was on base four times, thanks to a double, home run, and pair of walks, and led the team with two runs and three RBI.  Mason Brock, Rhys Dewick, Jack Becker, and Alejandro Molina all recorded multi-hit games as well.

Liam Jones got the start and was credited with the win, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks, with two strikeouts.  He was followed in order by Danny Gallardo, Caleb Keen, and Jacob Crowley, who each struck out one in scoreless frames.  Bryan Bullock gave up a run on a hit and a walk in the fifth, and then Dylan Balfour managed to get out of the sixth with just a single run allowed on three hits and a walk.  Brock tossed a scoreless seventh and Tyler Bloom allowed an unearned run in the eighth.  Caleb Yowell was called upon to protect a three-run lead in the ninth and earned the save with a scoreless inning.

The win will provide some good momentum going into the pivotal series with the Yellowjackets this Friday/Saturday, with playoff positioning very much on the line.  First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 3 p.m.