St. Bonifacius, MN - The MLC softball team won its first series of the season, taking two out of the three games against conference opponent Crown College on the road. After beating the Polars 10-2 in game one on Wednesday, the Knights went back up to St. Bonifacius and split the Saturday doubleheader with a close 6-5 loss in game two and a high-scoring contest in the rubber match with an 11-10 win in game three.

Game 3 MLC 11, Crown 10

Both teams hit the ball well, with the Knights holding a 13-11 edge in base hits in the final game that went seven innings. After MLC batted in the top of the third, the Knights put up a pair of runs in the first and second innings respectively and then had a big inning in the third, scoring four runs to go up 8-2.

The Polars responded with three runs in the bottom of the third and fourth frames to even up the score 8-8 in the back-and-forth game. Crown carried their momentum over into the fifth by taking their first lead of the game 10-8, but the Knights seized momentum back, scoring two in the top of the sixth on a Chloe Koschnitzke RBI triple and one more run in the seventh to defeat Crown.

Four players recorded multi-hit games, led by Kaylee Pickering, who led the squad with four base hits and three runs scored. The freshman also belted a two-run home run in the second inning for the Knights.

Kiara Humann, Rachel McCaughna, and Koschnitzke all finished with two hits, while Humann also led the Knights defensively with four assists at shortstop.

Game 2 Crown 6, MLC 5

In the earlier game on Saturday, MLC also hit the ball well with five runs, including a solo home run from Kieghtan Rank in the third inning. MLC added another run in the top of the third after a double steal that brought in Humann.

Humann also led MLC in runs (3) and stolen bases (2).

MLC will now host its first home series of the season when Bethany comes on Tuesday, April 7, for a doubleheader starting at 3:30 p.m.