Saint Peter, Minn. - The Polars finished their season with a doubleheader at Gustavus on Monday, dropping two close games to the Gusties.
Game 1
Easton McKenzie got the Polars on the board early with an RBI single in the first inning. In the third, Crown got a pair of two-run home runs from Carrick Burke and Tyler Olson to tie the game at 5-5. Gustavus added three runs between the third and fourth innings to take an 8-5 lead, but the Polars responded with 10 unanswered runs across the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings.
In the fifth, McKenzie added two more RBIs with a two-run double before scoring on an Olson triple. Carson Sanders followed with an RBI single to cap off a four-run inning. The Polars added another run in the sixth as Caden Esquerra scored on McKenzie's fourth RBI of the game on a groundout.
Crown broke things open in the seventh with five more runs, starting with three straight RBI singles from Blayke Reyburne, Burke, and Esquerra. Olson capped the inning with a two-run single to give the Polars a 15-8 lead.
The Gusties responded in the bottom of the seventh, scoring 10 unanswered runs to take an 18-15 victory in a high-scoring battle.
McKenzie finished with two hits, including a double, and four RBIs. Burke had three hits, including a home run, with three RBIs and two runs scored. Olson recorded three hits, including a triple, drove in a game-high five RBIs, and scored twice.
Game 2
Unlike Game 1, pitching was the highlight for both teams. After two scoreless innings, Blake Morgan put the Polars on the board in the third with an RBI single. Cole Vahovick held Gustavus scoreless through three innings, but the Gusties plated three runs in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead.
After two more scoreless innings, Tyler Olson cleared the bases with a three-run double in the top of the seventh to give the Polars a 4-3 lead. Gustavus answered with two unearned runs in the bottom half of the inning to reclaim a 5-4 lead, which held through the final out.
Vahovick, a senior making the start in his final game, threw 122 pitches over eight strong innings in the loss. He allowed just three earned runs on six hits while striking out nine. Tristan Wekseth tallied two hits and scored a run, while Olson delivered the go-ahead three-RBI double.
The Polars conclude their 2026 season with two close losses and will look to build off a young core heading into next season.
