Davenport, FL – The Polars Baseball team faced off with Illinois College on Friday falling 0-4 and winning the second 8-3.
The Polars struggled early on, unable to string many hits together. With a total of 3 hits in the first game Crown left 5 runners on base. Illinois College notched the only three runs of the game with two runs coming in the 4th and two in the 7th. Mason Brock, Ashton Long, and Tristan Shoemaker all notched hits for Crown. The Polars would fall by the score 4-0.
Aidan Volk-Specht started on the mound for Crown pitching 4 innings giving up 2 earned runs and struck out one batter on 66 total pitches. Danny Gallardo pitched 2.2 innings for the Polars giving up 2 earned runs and striking out one as well. Caleb Keen finished the game pitching two-thirds of an inning.
The second game saw Crown's bats come alive as Crown scored 2 runs in the first inning as Howie Hatton sent a double into left field scoring both Seth Betts and Cael Magill. The Polars notched another run in the top of the 3rd inning after Betts singled and stole two bases on back to back pitches and Hatton brought him in off a sacrifice fly. Illinois College answered back in the third scoring 2 runs of their own cutting the score to 3-2. Crown would notch two more runs in the top of the 4th as Magill and Betts both doubled. Three more runs in the top of the 6th inning came after a double from Magill, double from Long, and a triple from Hatton. The score would stay there with Crown coming out on top 8-2.
Howie Hatton led the way offensively with 4 RBIs on a double and a triple. Cael Magill had himself a three-hit game as well. Both Seth Betts and Jack Becker also added two hits.
Jacob Worley started on the mound pitching 3 innings allowing 2 earned runs on only 2 hits. Liam Jones came in to pitch for 2 innings, only allowing one hit. Followed by Jacob Van Dam and Blake Cramer who both pitched 1 inning, neither allowing a run.
Crown moves to 3-1 on the season and returns to action tomorrow March 11th for an 8am contest with Marian University (WI).