Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Cornerstone opened the WHAC portion of their schedule at DeWitt field and ended the day with a split against Madonna with a 2-0 win and 3-2 loss. The Golden Eagles now hold a 7-14 record on the season with a 1-1 record in conference play. The series with Madonna will pick back up tomorrow for another double-header beginning at 1 p.m.

Game Flow
Game 1 – CU's Ben Sheckler (JR/Sparta, Mich.) and Madonna's Evan Piechota put on a show on the mound as the two combined for 16 innings pitched while allowing 10 hits and striking out 17. The only offense that Sheckler needed to pick up his fourth win of the season came in the second inning when Levi Martin (FR/Vicenza, Italy) hit a solo homerun to put the Golden Eagles up 1-0.

Defensively, the Golden Eagles came up with some big plays to maintain the shutout highlighted by a diving stop in the top of the second by Jonathan Stewart and a diving catch by Jonny Abbadusky (JR/Elverson, Pa.) in the sixth. Also making solid stops on the left side of the infield were Aaron Krupansky (FR/Hartland, Mich.) and Joe Corsten (FR/Howell, Mich.).

The lead was padded in the eighth when Zach Bohl (SR/Hudsonville, Mich.) came up with a big 2-out single that scored Krupansky and the game was closed out by Ryan Harris (SR/Crystal Lake, Ill.) who pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth. 

Game 2 – The Crusaders picked up their first run of the day in the opening frame off CU starter Kyle Marburger (SR/Peru, Ind.) but then the senior right-hander settled in and helped contain the strong MU offense.

CU tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third when Levi Martin singled home Zach Bohl. After MU retook the lead in the top of the fourth, the Golden Eagles rallied with two outs to tie it in the bottom half when Krupansky scored off an MU error. Again, Madonna came right back as they took a 3-2 lead with a run in the top of the fifth. Cornerstone could not rally after that as they threatened in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings leaving a runner on second but could not bring a base runner around resulting in a 3-2 final. 
 

Starter's Lines
Ben Sheckler – 8.0 IP, 5H, 0R, 7K
Kyle Marburger – 4.1IP, 5H (3R-3ER), 1K

Offensive Numbers
-    Levi Martin homered for the second consecutive game with the long ball in game one
-    Jacob Klemme (SR/Plymouth, Wis.) got back on track in game two going logging two singles in four at bats
-    Aaron Krupansky went 3-6 on the day with two runs scored

What's Next
The Golden Eagles and Crusaders return to action on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. to complete their four-game series with a DH here at DeWitt Field.

Baseball Contact: Aaron Sagraves | 616-334-3831 | aaron.sagraves@cornerstone.edu 
CU Athletics: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Baseball: Twitter| Facebook