Mankato, MN - The Crown College Baseball team opened up their conference series with the Bethany Lutheran Vikings on Friday, dropping the first game of the series 12-8.

Three singles from the likes of Cael Magill, Seth Betts, and Rhys Dewick gave Crown an early 2-0 lead. The Vikings were able to push across four runs of their own in the first two innings to take the 4-2 lead. Crown answered back in the top of the 3rd with a leadoff single from Cael Magill and a two run home run from Seth Betts his 4th of the year. A home run from Mason Brock in the top of the 4th innings gave Crown the lead as the score sat at 5-4. Three quick hits and 4 walks doomed the Polars in the bottom of the 5th inning as the Vikings scored 4. Three runs from Crown didn't cut the lead enough as the Vikings matched the runs and the Polars fell 12-8.

Aidan Volk-Specht started for Crown and ended up taking the loss in the contest. Four other Polars took the hill including Brett Sutterby, Payton Clevenger, Charlie Joyce, and Liam Jones. Seth Betts went a perfect 3-3 on the game as he added 2 runs batted in as he starts to heat up. Cael Magill also reached on two hits. 

The Polars fall to 18-12 on the season and 12-4 in UMAC play as they dropped into third in the tight conference race. They return to action tomorrow back in Mankato as they finish up their three game series with Bethany Lutheran with game times set at 2pm and 4:30pm.