Baseball 3/7/2016 12:00:00 AM Aaron Sagraves

Klemme’s bat sparks split with Ave Maria

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

BABSON PARK, Fla. – Cornerstone picked up its second consecutive series split as they won 9-5 in game one before falling 6-4 in game two against Ave Maria. The Golden Eagles relied on the bat of Jacob Klemme (SR/Plymouth, Wis.) as he finished with six hits and five RBI in the double-header. CU is now 2-8 on the season and will continue play in Babson Park tomorrow at 6 p.m. against Webber International.

Game Flow

Game 1 – After CU was unable to convert hits into runs in the first two innings, Ave Maria took advantage with an RBI single by Connor Sullivan to score Rico Soto making it 1-0 in the third inning. CU responded in the top of the fourth with an opposite field homerun by Jacob Klemme to even the score at 1-1.

The runs poured on from there as the Golden Eagles scored four runs in the fifth inning that began with an RBI single by Jon Stewart (SO/Rockford, Mich.). The sixth inning was much of the same as Stewart recorded an inside the park home run that scored three, which was followed by a home run by Jacob Klemme that brought the score quickly to 9-1. Brandon Willard (SR/Sylvan Lake, Mich.) pitched well throughout but faced a little bit of trouble in the bottom of the sixth as he gave up four runs. Ryan Harris (SR/Crystal Lake, Ill.) came in as relief for and recorded the save giving Cornerstone the 9-5 victory.

Game 2 – Game two had a very similar start to game one, as runners got on early for the Golden Eagles, but CU could not get them around to score. Ave Maria again took advantage of the men left on base by Cornerstone with a homerun and an RBI single to take a 2-0 lead in the second inning. CU tied it back up in the top of the third with two runs of their own, one scored by Aaron Krupansky (FR/Hartland, Mich.) off an error that got Zach Bohl (SR/Hudsonville, Mich.) on base and one off an RBI single from Jacob Klemme.

Cornerstone could not keep the game tied though as Ave Maria scored three in the bottom of the third to take a 5-2 lead. One more run scored for each team before the top of the seventh and CU had the opportunity to take the lead. A pinch hit Davis Martin (SR/Powell, Ohio.) single brought the margin to 6-4, giving Clay Keltner (FR/Highland, Ind.) an opportunity to bat with a man on first and third, but a ground out to second base ended the chance for Cornerstone resulting in a 6-4 loss. Justin Geerts (SR/Surrey, B.C.) took the mound for Cornerstone in this one as he struggled with his command early leading to five walks on the game but he bounced back to finish with 10 strikeouts.

Starters Lines
Brandon Willard – 5.1IP, 8H, 3ER, 2K, 0BB
Justin Geerts – 5.2IP, 7H, 5ER, 10K, 5BB

Offensive Numbers
-   Travis Gordon (SR/Lowell, Mich.) and Jacob Klemme combined for 10 of the Golden Eagle hits today
-   The Golden Eagles drew a total of eight walks in the double-header
-   Jon Stewart recorded five RBI's today off of three hits

What's Next
The Golden Eagles will return to Babson Park tomorrow for a matchup at Webber International University at 6 p.m.

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