Baseball | 4/12/2017 12:47:00 PM

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Golden Eagles may just have a three game week, but it is a crucial one as CU will be fighting for a WHAC tournament spot vs. Siena Heights this weekend. Cornerstone will play a singe game on Thursday at 3 p.m. and then play a double-header on Saturday at 1 p.m. The teams will take Friday off due to it being Good Friday. All three games this weekend will have live video and stats on the Cornerstone Golden Eagle Sports Network (CSPN).

Scouting Siena Heights
A relatively young Siena Heights roster has been very streaky so far this season, recording a 13-21 overall record and a 12-9 conference record. The Saints have suffered a nine game and five game losing streak this season, but fortunately for them, all but three of those games were in non-conference play. As a team, Siena Heights has been very balanced in their pitching and hitting. The biggest struggle Siena Heights has seen has come in their defense as they average over two errors per game with a total of 70 on the year. Individually, Brendan Green leads the team with a .337 batting average, but SHU does see four players with a BA above .300 and more than 30 hits. From the mound, Siena Heights again see's balance, averaging a 6.33 ERA as a team with bullpen pitcher Robert Oliver III leading the way  at 3.97. Among the starting pitchers, Kyle Kuhr has had the most success recording a team best three wins and 39 strikeouts to go along with his 4.96 ERA.
 
History vs. the Saints
Cornerstone has had significant success against SHU in the four years they have played each other, going 8-4 all-time. The series with Siena Heights has been notorious for close games, as CU went 2-2 last season with all four games being decided by four runs or less.
 
Last Week Recap
The Golden Eagles went 1-4 last week ending a season best six game winning streak. CU traveled to Mishawaka, Indiana for a double-header against non-conference Bethel College to start the week and won game one 9-6, followed by a 4-3 loss in extra innings. Cornerstone then hosted the WHAC leading no. 13 Northwestern Ohio Racers and were unable to earn an upset, falling 7-0, 11-0, and 8-5 in the three game set. The Golden Eagles have now lost four in a row to put their record at 16-23, 8-11 WHAC as they get set for a crucial series with Siena Heights this weekend.
 
Crucial Series
This weekends three game set vs. Siena Heights looks to be a huge series for both teams as the Golden Eagles and the Saints sit right on the edge of qualifying for the WHAC tournament. Currently SHU sits in the final playoff spot at 12-9 in conference play, while CU is on the outside looking in right behind them at 8-11 in the WHAC. With just 12 conference games remaining this season, this series could be the decider in who clinches the sixth and final spot in the conference tournament. 
 
Close Game Struggles
Cornerstone continues to struggle in close games this season. CU lost another game in extra innings last week, falling to Bethel 4-3 in eight innings on the road. Cornerstone is now 1-6 in extra inning games and 2-8 in one run games this season.
 
Looking Ahead
The 2016-17 regular season is starting to wind down for the Golden Eagles, as they have just 13 games remaining on the year. Cornerstone has a favorable schedule down the stretch, as they have six games yet to play against the bottom feeders of the WHAC in Marygrove and Lourdes. Along with those series, CU will host sixth place Siena Heights and fifth place Davenport.
 
Abbadusky's Hit Streak
Senior Jonny Abbadusky has had a career year in this season for the Golden Eagles and that includes a career best 14 game hit streak. Abbadusky started the streak against Aquinas on March 23, and it came to an end just last week against Northwestern Ohio on April 8. Abbadusky only has five games this season without a hit, as he leads the Golden Eagles in total hits, batting average, runs scored, slugging percentage, and on base percentage this season.
 
Wagner Goes Back-to-Back
Senior Evan Wagner became just the second Golden Eagle in franchise history to have a two homerun game, as he hit his first two bombs of the season in back-to-back at bats vs. UNOH. The only other Golden Eagle with a two homerun game was Jake Klemme who hit two against Ave Maria last season on March 7.
 
Reed's Strikeouts
Junior Olivet Nazarene transfer Noah Reed continues to lead the Golden Eagles in strikeouts this season with 40 so far. Reed is looking to become just the sixth Golden Eagle in franchise history to record 50 or more strikeouts in a single season, doing most of it out of the bullpen. Reed is one of the hardest throwers for Cornerstone this season, as he holds a 5.04 ERA in 44.2 innings pitched. 
 
Base Stealing Presence
Senior Jonny Abbadusky and freshman Brady Eeles have been the two biggest base stealing threats for the Golden Eagles this season, each recording nine so far. Nine stolen bases puts both players tied for 13th in the WHAC. Abbadusky is 9-10 in stolen base attempts this season while Eeles is 9-12. Jon Stewart is third on the team in the stolen base category this season with five in seven attempts.
 
Baseball Contact: Jesse Campbell 
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