ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Northwestern baseball team welcomed Crown College to Reynolds Field for the 2019 home opener. In a pair of seven-inning non-conference tilts, the Eagles recorded a 4-0 game one win and a 5-4 victory in game two. Blue skies and 55 degree weather made way for the official start to baseball season in St. Paul.
 
Following the day of action, Northwestern improves to 6-4 on the year, while the Storm fall to 3-8 this season.
 
Game 1: Northwestern 4, Crown 0
 
The Eagles did most of the damage early on, scoring all four runs in the first three innings of play. Carlton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) got the offense rolling, driving in Wyatt Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Home School) (who doubled to lead off the inning).
 
The Eagles added two more runs in the bottom of two when Morell doubled to right center to score two. The sophomore second baseman went 2-for-three at the plate to lead Northwestern in the game one win.
 
Northwestern's fourth and final run came in the bottom of the third when senior Aaron Krahn (Roseau, Minn./Roseau) homered to left field (his second this season).
 
Philip Wall (Juneau, Alaska/IDEA) pitched a complete seven innings on the mound for UNW, throwing a one-hit shutout. Wall walked three and struck out seven after facing 24 batters to improve to 2-0 this year.
 
Game 2: Northwestern 5, Crown 4
 
Northwestern picked up where they left off to start game two, scoring early to take a 1-0 lead on a Carlton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) sacrifice fly.
 
This time, however, Crown responded with two runs in the top of the third on two hits. The Eagles didn't back down, regaining the lead in the bottom half of the inning when Guerin Szafraniec (Brighton, Colo./Brighton) doubled to left center to drive in a run and Aaron Krahn (Roseau, Minn./Roseau) followed up with an RBI single. Holt Goodwin (Orinda, Calif./Miramonte) doubled to drive in the third run of the inning, securing a 4-2 lead heading into the fourth.
 
The Storm added one run in the fourth and homered in the sixth to tie it back up, but the Eagles responded once again. Goodwin singled through the left side to score Wyatt Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Home School) to give UNW a 5-4 edge heading into the top of seven.
 
While Quinton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) earned the win for the Eagles on the mound – Bradley Spencer (Papillion, Neb./Papillion South) closed out the seventh and retired the side. Spencer recorded his second save of the season.
 
Q. Lindow improves to 1-1 on the mound this season after pitching six innings and allowing four earned runs. He struck out three and faced 27 batters.
 
The Eagles will return to action on Tuesday, March 26 when they welcome Augsburg University to Reynolds Field. First pitch in the doubleheader is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
Follow UNW baseball online this season at www.unweagles.com