What caused the two men to fight is unknown.

But according to Auburn Police, one of the enraged contestants picked up a bat and struck the other man multiple times about the body and head at about 9 p.m. Sunday in the 1500 block of I Street Northeast.

Doctors at MultiCare Auburn Medical Center treated the 42-year-old victim and released him early the next morning.

“There is conflicting information, but it looks like the guy was hit 8 to 12 times, not all of the hits were on the head,” Auburn Police Cmndr. Dan O’Neal said Monday afternoon.

Both men are from Auburn.

Police responded to the incident at 9:05 p.m.

O’Neil said the unnamed 42-year-old suspect fled to a nearby vacant house, to which a police dog tracked him, and where police arrested him on suspicion of first-degree assault.

Police will forward the case to the King County Prosecutors’ Office for possible filing of criminal charges.