St. Paul, Minn. - The Polars battled with the UW-Superior Yellowjackets on Saturday in the UMAC Championship and won both by scores of 9-7 and 8-6.
Game one started with the Yellowjackets putting 3 runs on the scoreboard in the first inning after Jefferson Barmoy closed out the first. Hits from Ashton Long and Tyler Bloom sparked a 3 run top of the 2nd and the Polars evened the score at 3-3.
A lead off home run from Howie Hatton and a two run single from Ethan Habetler gave Crown the 6-3 lead. After a few runs from UW-Superior the Polars pushed across a couple of runs after clutch hits from Matthew Shaugabay and Rhys Dewick.
The 8-5 lead was cut to 8-7 in the 7th inning. Tristan Camp came in to pitch and despite taking a line drive to the ribs, stayed out on the field and closed out the contest.
Bloom and Habetler both had 3 hit efforts at the plate. Hatton, Shaugabay, and Girtz all had 2 hits. Barmoy earned the win after 5.1 innings pitched and totaling 5 strikeouts. Camp earned the save and didn't all an earned run on the mound. With this win it forced a game two winner take all contest.
Game two saw Payton Clevenger take the rubber. UW-Superior scored one run in the top half of the 1st inning. Hatton drove his second ball out of the park in the bottom of the 1st with a two-run home run to take the 2-1 lead. The Polars were able to push across two runs in the 2nd to stretch the lead to 4-1.
The Yellowjackets started the 3rd with one run to make the score 4-2. A lead off double from Dewick and bunt single from Ashton Long allowed Crown to score 1 run heading into the 4th, 5-2 the lead. UW-Superior closed the gap and tied it at 5-5 after a three run 4th inning.
After a scoreless two innings Shaugabay sent a 2 run blast over the left field wall to take the lead right back 7-5 in the 6th. A Mason Brock single scored Drew Girtz from second base and Crown extended the 8-5 lead.
The Yellowjackets grabbed one run but Drew Girtz was able to come in and close out the game and the Polars claimed their 2nd ever UMAC Tournament Championship!
The Polars will move on to the NCAA Regional for the second time in three seasons. Monday, May 13th the NCAA Division III Baseball Selection Show will determine where the Polars will go next.