ST. PAUL – The University of Northwestern baseball team (10-15, 0-1 UMAC) dropped a heartbreaker to Crown College (12-7, 3-0 UMAC), 7-6, in game one of the doubleheader Wednesday at Reynolds Field. The Eagles got out to a quick start in game two, taking a 5-0 lead in the first before play was halted due to the rain.

The series was supposed to be played at Crown, but got moved to Reynolds Field with the anticipated rain Wednesday. The two teams will resume the contest Thursday at 7 p.m. in Watertown at Highland Park. 

Trailing 5-3 heading into the eighth, Brett Reinhart (Chanhassen, Minn./Southwest Christian) launched a two-run homerun to knot the score at 5-5. Aaron Krahn (Roseau, Minn./Roseau) followed that with a sacrifice fly to score Nathan Ehnstrom (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) and give the Eagles their first lead of the game, 6-5. Crown answered with a run in the bottom of the frame and then scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth to earn the victory.

Christian Halbur (Richfield, Minn./Homeschool) and Reinhart drove in a pair of runs each, while Ehnstrom came around to score twice.

Starting pitcher Henry Waage (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria) worked the first five innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits before Nick Pilz (Stacy, Minn./North Branch) replaced him out of the pen. Pilz didn't give up an earned run in three innings of action. Micah Williams (Gulfport, Miss. /Christian Collegiate Academy) was tagged with the loss, as the freshman left-hander came in to pitch the ninth.

Fans can find updates on the baseball program at www.unweagles.com.