Roseville, Minn. - The Crown baseball team hosted the University of Northwestern on Monday, losing both games of a doubleheader to kick off the series.

Game 1

The Eagles jumped ahead early with a two-run top of the first and never looked back. The Polars did get one run in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI double from Easton McKenzie but could not rally, as Northwestern won the first game of the series 9-1. McKenzie was a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate, and Michael Escalante was excellent in relief, giving up just one run in the final 5.1 innings while striking out three. Tyler Olson also collected a pair of singles, going 2-for-4 in the game and scoring a run.

Game 2

The second game of the day had a much different feel, as the Polars had opportunities to win the game. Northwestern again got out to an early lead, scoring four in the second inning. Despite giving up four runs, Blake Lowrey recorded five strikeouts and threw two scoreless innings to keep the Eagles within reach. Brock Bjornjeld was also crucial for the Polars, tossing two scoreless innings and allowing the Polars to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth.

Carrick Burke led off the fifth inning with a single and then put himself into scoring position with a stolen base. Aidan Garza immediately doubled, putting runners at second and third with nobody out. Caden Esquerra picked up an RBI on a groundout to shortstop. Three straight two-out hits tied the game for the Polars, including a single from TJ Reilly to move Garza to third, followed by an RBI single from Tyler Olson to cut the deficit to two runs. Carson Sanders delivered the big hit, crushing a two-RBI single to the gap to score both Reilly and Olson and tie the game at four.

Brett Torbeck came in to pitch a scoreless sixth inning as the game remained tied entering the seventh. Matt Yarish entered the game with nobody out and the bases loaded, working out of the jam and allowing just one run to score as the Eagles carried a 5-4 lead into the eighth inning.

A pair of singles from McKenzie and Garza, along with a walk by Burke, loaded the bases with one out in the eighth inning with Esquerra at the plate. Esquerra delivered a two-RBI single to give the Polars a late lead. Reilly added insurance with an RBI double to give the Polars a two-run lead entering the final frame. The Eagles responded with three runs in the top of the ninth, and the Polars were unable to push across any runs in the bottom half, falling 8-7 in an exciting game.

The Polars finish the series on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. Like the doubleheader today, the Polars will be the home team but will play at the University of Northwestern.