Cornerstone University - News

[Softball] Cornerstone comes up short in 6-1 loss to Madonna

Randy Strawser — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:20:00 -0600

The Golden Eagles had another huge challenge tonight against Madonna. Cornerstone started well going up 1-0 in the top of the second on a Jenna Weightman homer but the lead was short-lived as Madonna scored three of their own in the bottom half of the inning to take a 3-1 lead. The Crusaders added one more to their lead in the third and two in the fourth to take a 6-1 over the Golden Eagles. Bree Crampton made it tough on the Golden Eagles pitching a 2-hitter. Cornerstone finishes the year 32-6. Madonna will play Davenport and an elimination game tomorrow.

[Softball] Cornerstone walks off with 5-4 win over Siena Heights

Randy Strawser — Thu, 02 May 2013 19:35:00 -0600

Cornerstone had to return to action right away after the loss to Aquinas to play their first elimination game against Siena Heights. The Golden Eagles got on the scoreboard early on a solo home run by Heidi Warmelink in the bottom of the first inning. Cornerstone scored another run in the bottom of the second to make it 2-0. Ashley Niedermayer led off with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Alexsandra Szajna, and scored on a sac fly by Rachel Bode. The Saints tied the score at 2-2 in top of the third inning on four hits and an error. The Golden Eagles reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth much like the run in the second. Niedermayer opened with a single, advance to second with a sac bunt by Szajna, moved to third on a single by Rachel Bode, then scored on a line out by Harlie Sherman. The score remained 3-2 until the top of the seventh. Siena Heights started the inning with a bunt single. Warmelink got the next two batters out before issuing an intentional walk to Taylor Hayes who has the 2^nd best batting average (.464) in the WHAC to put runners on first and third. Warmelink hit the next batted to load the bases and Siena Heights made the most of it with a 2 RBI single to follow to give the Saints a 4-3 lead. Harlie Sherman led off with a ground out to the pitcher so the Golden Eagles were now just two outs from being eliminated. Haley Castillo did what she has been doing all year by getting on base. She hit one down to third base and ran it out to give CU life. Lauren Pasciak followed her with a single up the middle to put runners on first and second with Warmelink coming to the plate. The Saints decided to intentionally walk Warmelink to load the bases. Megan Oberst drew a walk to tie the game and Jenna Weightman came through like she has done so many times this year with a walk off single to give Cornerstone the 5-4 win to survive and advance in the WHAC tournament.

Cornerstone advances to play Madonna in another elimination game later tonight.

[Softball] Golden Eagles hitters silenced in 6-2 loss to Aquinas

Randy Strawser — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:25:00 -0600

(Battle Creek, Mich. – Bailey Park) #1 seed Cornerstone faced #4 seed Aquinas in their second game of the 2013 WHAC tournament. The Golden Eagles fell behind early when Aquinas scored a run on three hits in the second inning. Aquinas scored two more runs in the third inning on four hits and an error to make it 3-0. The Saints score two more in the top of the fourth inning but the Golden Eagles got two back in the bottom half of the inning on a 2-run home run by Jenna Weightman to make it 5-2 after four innings. Aquinas scored another in the top of the fifth to make it 6-2 and that is the way the game would end. Rebecca Shineklecker kept the Golden Eagles hitters off balance the whole game giving up just three hits for the Saints. Aquinas moves on in the winner's bracket and Cornerstone will now have to come back through the bracket with one loss. Cornerstone will face #7 Siena Heights at 5:30 p.m. The winner will advance to the next game at 8:00 p.m.

[Softball] Golden Eagles pound the Wolves

Randy Strawser — Wed, 01 May 2013 21:45:00 -0600

(Battle Creek, Mich. – Bailey Park) #1 seed Cornerstone faced #9 seed in their opening game of the WHAC tournament and the Golden Eagles exploded for 17 runs in just five innings. Junior Heidi Warmelink left her mark on the game. Warmelink hit a grand slam in the second inning, a 3-run shot in the third inning and another grand slam in the fourth inning for a total of 11 RBI's. She also pitched a 3-hit shutout to lead the Golden Eagles both offensively and defensively. Haley Castillo went 2 for 4 with 3 runs scored. Lauren Pasciak went 2 for 2 with an RBI and 3 runs scored. Megan Oberst went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI's and 2 runs scored. Jenna Weightman went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored. Ashley Niedermayer, Alexsandra Szajna, and Harlie Sherman all went 2 for 3 with 1 RBI each. The Golden Eagles pounded out 18 hits and went on to win 17-0 in the opening game.

Cornerstone will face Aquinas at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow.

[Softball] Golden Eagles receive WHAC honors

Randy Strawser — Wed, 01 May 2013 18:35:00 -0600

The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) released its postseason honors for the sport of softball. Cornerstone won the regular season with a 14-2 league record (30-4 overall). It marked the Golden Eagles first conference title since 2001 and the first time in five years that a team other than Davenport or Madonna took home the crown. Cornerstone head coach Jim Farrell garnered Coach of the Year honors as his team sits in the top spot in the conference tournament. Coaches awarded the Siena Heights coaching staff the Coach of Character award.

Four players were voted First Team All-Conference (Haley Castillo, Megan Oberst, Heidi Warmelink, and Jenna Weightman) by the WHAC coaches. Ashley Niedermayer was named Honorable Mention All-WHAC.

Heidi Warmelink was named to the Champions of Character team. Madison Bucilla, Lauren Pasciak, and Heidi Warmelink were all named to the Academic All-Conference team. Click here to see the full list of players honored.

[Softball] Golden Eagles top seed in WHAC Tournament

Randy Strawser — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:50:00 -0600

The Golden Eagles won the WHAC regular season title with a 14-2 conference record and earned the top seed in the WHAC Tournament which will begin on Wednesday, May 1st at 6:00 p.m. The Golden Eagles will get a bye in the first round of games and will face the winner of #9 UM-Dearborn and #8 Indiana Tech at 8:30 p.m. at Bailey Park in Battle Creek, Mich. The tournament is a double-elimination format with the winner receiving the NAIA automatic berth for the WHAC. Click here to go to the WHAC Softball Tournament page to see all of the pairings.

[Softball] Cornerstone win WHAC regular season title with sweep of Indiana Tech

Randy Strawser — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:25:00 -0600

Grand Rapids, Mich.) The Golden Eagles entered today's game with a 12-2 WHAC record with a chance to win the conference or a share of it. Cornerstone rallied with two runs in the 6^th inning of game one to pull out a 2-1 win to earn at least a tie for the regular season title. The Warriors took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a couple of singles and a fielder's choice. Both pitchers were tough through the five innings limiting the scoring opportunities. Haley Castillo started the sixth with a bunt single. Heidi Warmelink followed with a ground ball to the short stop for a fielder's choice but the short stop threw the ball back to second to try to get the runner but the ball went into right field. Both runners advanced to second and third. Megan Oberst then hit a sac fly to right field to bring in Castillo to tie the score at 1-1. Jenna Weightman stepped up and drove a double over the center fielded to bring home Warmelink to give Cornerstone a 2-1 lead. Warmelink gave up single but retired the other three batters in the top of the seventh to secure the win for the Golden Eagles. Warmelink improved to 17-1 with the win.

Cornerstone got on the board in the bottom of the second inning of game two. Megan Oberst drew a walk to start the inning. Oberst was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice for Ashley Niedermayer. Alexsandra Szajna hit a single to right to advance Niedermayer to third and then scored on an errant throw to make it 1-0. Heidi Warmelink hit a solo shot to leadoff the fourth inning to make it 2-0. Megan Oberst and Jenna Weightman followed with a singles to put runners on first and third. Oberst came home and an Alexsandra Szajna single to make it 3-0. Lauren Pasciak drew a 1-out walk in fifth inning and came home on Megan Oberst double to center field to put Cornerstone up 4-0. Jenna Weightman and Ashley Niedermayer both drew walks to fill the bases. Alexsandra Szajna hit a 2 RBI single to right field to make it 6-0. Rachel Bode followed that with a single up the middle to bring in Niedermayer to put Cornerstone up 7-0 after five innings. Indiana Tech broke up Rachel Nelson's no hitter with one out in the top of the seventh and went on to score two runs to make it 7-2 but Nelson stuck out the final batter to secure the win and to give Cornerstone the WHAC regular season title. Nelson improved to 11-3 on the year. Cornerstone finishes the regular season with a 30-4 overall record and a 14-2 conference record.

Cornerstone will be the top seed in the WHAC Tournament which will be played in Battle Creek, Mich. beginning May 1^st.

[Softball] Cornertone inches closer to WHAC title with sweep of Concordia

Randy Strawser — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 21:50:00 -0600

(Ann Arbor, Mich.) The Golden Eagles made the most of three singles scoring four runs in the first inning. Haley Castillo and Lauren Pasciak hit back to back singles to start the game. Heidi Warmelink drew a walk to load the bases. Megan Oberst reached on an error by the first baseman and Castillo and Paskiak both scored on the play to give Cornerstone a 2-0 lead. Warmelink then scored on an Ashley Niedermayer ground out and Oberst scored on a Harlie Sherman single to put the Golden Eagles up 4-0 on three singles and an error. The Cardinals got one back in the bottom of the sixth inning but left a couple on base after getting three of their five hits in that inning. Cornerstone added to their lead in the top of the seventh inning. Kathy DeYoung and Lauren Pasciak both drew walks before and after a bunt single by Haley Castillo to load the bases. Heidi Warmelink grounded out to the first baseman to bring home DeYoung. Megan Oberst walked to load the bases again and Jenna Weightman hit a 2-run single up the middle to put Cornerstone up 7-1. The Cardinals got a couple of runners on in the bottom of the seventh but Warmelink got the last two batters to pop up to the infield to secure the win to improve to 17-1 on the season.

The second game looked much like the first as the Golden Eagles scored two runs in the first and three runs in the seventh on the way to a 6-3 victory. Haley Castillo walked and came home on a home run over the center field fence by Megan Oberst. (Oberst's 6^th of the season) The Cardinals tied the game in the bottom of the first with a walk and homer of their own. Cornerstone went up 3-2 in the third inning on a Heidi Warmelink single and an RBI triple by Ashley Niedermayer but the Cardinals responded in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 3-3 and it remained that way until the seventh inning. Alexsandra Szajna reached on an error follow by a Lauren Pasciak single to put runners on first and second. Heidi Warmelink advanced the runners on a pop fly to left field. Megan Oberst was intentionally walked to load the bases and Jenna Weightman mad them pay with a 3 RBI double to left field. Rachel Nelson retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to complete the game giving up just two hits and securing the win for the Golden Eagles. Nelson improved to 10-3 on the season and the Golden Eagles moved to 28-4 overall and 12-2 in conference.

The Golden Eagles will finish out the WHAC regular season tomorrow at 1:00 against Indiana Tech.

[Softball] Golden Eagles take two close ones against Gray Wolves

Randy Strawser — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:50:00 -0600

(Grand Rapids, Mich. – at Davenport University) The Golden Eagles had to play their WHAC games against Lourdes at Davenport because of wet field conditions at home. Cornerstone took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a run by Ashley Niedermayer. Niedermayer opened the inning with a double. Harlie Sherman followed with a single and Niedermayer scored on an errant throw by Lourdes. Cornerstone scored another run in the fifth inning on an RBI double by Jenna Weightman which scored Megan Oberst. Heidi Warmelink pitched a 2-hit shutout and improve to 16-1 from the circle.

Cornerstone started well in game 2 scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Lauren Pasciak and Heidi Warmelink hit back to back singles with one out. Paciak advanced to third on the hit and scored on an error by the right fielder. Warmelink advanced to third on the error and scored on a sac fly by Megan Oberst. Lourdes had a solo homer in the fourth to make it 2-1 Rachel Nelson shut the Gray Wolves out to finish out the game with a 2-1 win. Nelson improved to 9-3 on the year. Cornerstone improved to 26-4 overall and 10-2 in the WHAC.

Cornerstone will travel down to Ann Arbor on Friday to take on the Cardinals and will finish the season on Saturday with a home double header against Indiana Tech.

[Softball] Softball games against Lourdes have been moved to Davenport

Randy Strawser — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 07:50:00 -0600

The games between Cornerstone and Lourdes have been moved to Davenport's field - FARMERS INSURANCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX (6201 68th Street, Caledonia, MI 49316) because Cornerstone's field is not playable. The games will start at 4:00 p.m. Cornerstone is currently in first place in the WHAC with an 8-2 record.

[Softball] Cornerstone splits with Aquinas

Randy Strawser — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:25:00 -0600

(Grand Rapids, Mich. – Aquinas played at Gainey Athletic Complex) The Golden Eagles moved their games against Aquinas up a day and over to the Gainey Athletic Complex because of expected rain tomorrow. Cornerstone got on the board first in the top of the second inning with an unearned run. Aquinas tied it at 1-1 in the bottom of the third. Cornerstone took the lead in the top of the fifth. Haley Castillo started the inning with a single and was moved to second on a Heidi Warmelink walk. Jenna Weightman followed with a double to bring both runners home. Ashley Niedermayer ripped a double to right field to bring Weightman across the plate to make it 4-1 and Harlie Sherman hit an RBI single to give Cornerstone a 5-1 lead. Heidi Warmelink pitched a 3-hitter to improve to 15-1 on the season.

The Saints scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning and one run in the bottom of the sixth to go on to defeat the Golden Eagles 3-0 in game 2. The Golden Eagles bats went cold in the second game. Cornerstone only got five hits in the second game. Rachel Nelson took the loss in the game and dropped to 8-3 on the season. Cornerstone dropped to 24-4 overall and 8-2 in the WHAC. Cornerstone will face Lourdes (OH) on Wednesday. Those game might be played a Davenport if we have bad weather.

Cornerstone will face Lourdes at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

[Softball] Jenna Weightman tabbed as conference POW

Aimee Luurtsema — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:30:00 -0600

Jenna Weightman was named WHAC Player of the Week in Softball. Weightman was instrumental in helping the Golden Eagles sweep Davenport during the week. Weightman went 4 for 8 with 5 RBI's and 2 runs scored in the double header against the Panthers. Weightman is hitting .322 with 4 HR's so far this season.

[Softball] Location and Date Change for Softball

Aimee Luurtsema — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:10:00 -0600

The Golden Eagles' Women's Softball team was scheduled to host Aquinas College tomorrow for a Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference double-header but due to potential weather forecasted for the Grand Rapids area, the games have been moved to today.

The double-header will be played at the Gainey Athletic Complex located on East Paris in Grand Rapids instead of playing at Cornerstone University. The first game is set to begin at 4 p.m.

[Softball] Golden Eagles pick up crucial sweep of Panthers

Randy Strawser — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:35:00 -0600

The Golden Eagles traveled over to Davenport for a couple of crucial WHAC games and came away with a huge sweep of the Panthers. Cornerstone got on the board in the third inning. Lauren Pasciak got a 1-out infield single to get things started. Heidi Warmelink followed her with a single up the middle to move Pasciak to third and she advanced to second on the throw to third. Megan Oberst popped out to the second baseman for the second out. Jenna Weightman had an infield hit to the pitcher to bring home Pasciak to make it 1-0. Ashley Niedermayer then hit a 2 run triple to plate Warmelink and Weightman to give Cornerstone a 3-0 lead. Heidi Warmelink gave up just one more hit for the rest of the game to shutout the Panthers. Warmelink improved to 13-1 on the season.

Cornerstone started well in game 2. Haley Castillo started the game with a bunt single. She was forced out at second on a fielder's choice to Lauren Pasciak. Heidi Warmelink lined out to the second baseman for the second out. Megan Oberst drew a walk to put runners on first and second base. Jenna Weightman then hit a 3-run shot over the right field fence to give Cornerstone a 3-0 lead. Davenport picked up single runs in fourth and fifth innings to make it 3-2 but the Golden Eagles responded with two more in the top of the sixth inning to keep a three run lead. Haley Castillo reached on an error. Heidi Warmelink was walked intentionally to put runners on first and second base. Megan Oberst hit a single to bring home Castillo and Heidi Warmelink scored on a fielder's choice to Jenna Weightman. The Panthers mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh scoring two runs on four hits and an error but Heidi Warmelink caught a line drive to end the game at 5-4 for the Golden Eagles. Cornerstone improved to 7-1 in the WHAC and 23-3 overall.

Cornerstone is scheduled to play a double header at Aquinas tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.

[Softball] Warmelink named WHAC Pitcher and Player of the Week

Randy Strawser — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:40:00 -0600

Heidi Warmelink was named both Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week for her performances this past week. The Golden Eagles went 5-1 for the week and Warmelink played a huge role in the games. Warmelink allowed just 13 hits and 1 earned run in 20 innings of work as Cornerstone went 5-1...She finished the week with a 0.35 ERA and 3 wins and a save from the circle. She might have had a better week at the plate. She hit .706 with five home runs and 12 RBIs on 12 hits. Warmelink finished the week with a 1.647 slugging average..