ST. PAUL – The University of Northwestern softball team (18-14, 7-5) suffered a pair of losses against Crown College (15-11, 8-0) on the warmest day of the year Monday at Reynolds Field. The Eagles fell 4-2 in game one before dropping the nightcap, 5-3.

Game One
Crown hit a two-run home run in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead before Kayla Hannasch (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North ) connected on an RBI single in the fourth to help cut the deficit in half. After Crown tacked on another run in the fifth, Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area ) drove in Mindy Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins) to make the score 3-2. The Storm then plated another in the seventh and hung on for the 4-2 win.

Ronning finished 2-for-2 at the plate. Lexi Kopacek (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) (9-7) suffered the loss after she went the distance in the circle, allowing four earned runs on seven hits.

Game Two
Northwestern led 1-0 after the first thanks to Mindy Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins)'s wheels on the base paths. Forcier singled, stole second, stole third and then advanced home on an errant throw down to third from the Crown catcher.

The Storm tabbed three runs in the third before Ciara Scheithauer (Rib Lake, Wis./Rib Lake) posted an RBI single in the fourth. UNW's third run came via Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area )'s double in the sixth.

Mindy Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins), Kayla Madison (North Branch, Minn./Forest Lake ), Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area ) and Kayla Hannasch (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North ) all finished with two hits apiece.

Moriah Maunu (Glencoe, Minn./Glencoe-Silver Lake) (2-2) was tagged with the loss, hurling 4.2 innings.

The Eagles will be right back on the diamond Tuesday as Minnesota Morris will visit Reynolds Field for a doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m. Fans can find more information at unweagles.com and by following @unwsoftball on Twitter.