Box Score

COLOGNE, Minn. – Strong pitching and a quick offensive start helped the University of Northwestern take the first of a three-game series against Crown College, 6-2. The Eagles scored at least one run in five different innings, while Connor Olson (Mahtomedi, Minn/Mahtomedi) cruised on the mound for UNW to help Northwestern improve to 5-1 in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) play.

Northwestern held a 4-0 lead after the fourth inning thanks to a collection of RBI hits. Matt Doss (Pillager, Minn./Pillager)'s RBI double in the second inning scored Austin Adamson (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) for the first run of the game, leading into consecutive hits that brought in Aaron Rau (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) and Tyler Osborn (Clive, Iowa/Des Moines Christian) in the third frame.

Taylor McMurray (Vadnais Heights, Minn./Totino-Grace)'s single through the left side in the fourth gave UNW a nice pad until Crown threatened with runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. A Ryan Denison double gave the Storm its first run of the game before Harry Ballantyne connected with an Olson pitch and put it over the right field fence.

With Northwestern leading by three, the Eagles added one more run in the ninth, taking advantage of Rau's single that eventually allowed Andy Haagenson (Minneapolis, Minn./Henry Sibley) to score unearned.

Both Rau and Doss had multiple hits in the game for UNW, with six different guys collecting an RBI. Heads-up base running also helped the Eagles; Northwestern successfully stole six bases on Crown catcher Travis Walker.

Both of Crown's runs were charged to Olson as being earned, but the junior finished the nine-inning affair with eight strikeouts while allowing 10 hits en route to earning the victory.

Northwestern (11-10 overall) and Crown are back on the diamond on Saturday for Games 2 and 3 of the series, with a 12 p.m. first pitch scheduled.