GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A stretch of warm and dry weather has the Golden Eagle softball team eager at playing its first games of the year on its home field. That will come Tuesday when CU starts an 8-game week, six of which are home, against Rochester College at 3:30 p.m. All games can be viewed live on the Cornerstone Sports Network (CSPN).
 
 
Wrapping up last week
 
The Golden Eagles fell to 7-23 overall, 2-10 in the WHAC after losing all eight games last week, including doubleheaders against three of the top teams in the conference in Aquinas, UM-Dearborn, and Madonna.
 
 
Conference position
 
Cornerstone is tied for 8^th in the WHAC standings, but the Golden Eagles have gotten the tough doubleheaders out of the way, as they have already played against the top six teams. They still have doubleheaders against Indiana Tech (11^th), Lawrence Tech (T-8^th), Northwestern Ohio (7^th), and Lourdes (T-8^th). All of these games will be very important as the Golden Eagles are pushing to get into the eight-team conference tournament.
 
 
Schedule (all doubleheaders)
 
Tuesday, April 18 – vs Rochester – 3:30pm
Thursday, April 20 – at Indiana Tech – 3:00pm
Friday, April 21 – vs. Lawrence Tech – 3:30pm
Saturday, April 22 – vs. Northwestern Ohio – 1:00pm
 
 
Scouting Rochester – The Warriors have a 5-25 overall record. They have been outscored 209-72 by their opponents so far this season. Rochester is led at the plate by Jenna Dominek, who is batting .333 with a team-leading 15 RBI. Their two main pitchers, Brooke Snyder and Natalie Roseneau, combine for a 7.07 ERA.

Scouting Indiana Tech – Indiana Tech is in last place in the WHAC with a 1-10 record in conference play, and 4-29-1 overall. Brianna Glass leads the team with a .348 average with 20 stolen bases. The Warriors are led in the circle by Jamie Conrad, who has a 3.55 ERA. The Warriors and the Golden Eagles split last year's doubleheader.

Scouting Lawrence Tech – Lawrence Tech is tied with Cornerstone at eighth place in the conference standings with a 2-10 record. Overall, the Blue Devils are 14-24. Offensively, the team has a combined .312 batting average, led by Meredith Adams, who is batting .405 with 20 RBI. In the circle, Alexa Cherney has pitched 128.1 innings, tallying 124 strikeouts and 14 complete games while maintaining a 3.82 ERA.

Scouting Northwestern Ohio – The Racers are 24-21 overall with a 5-7 record in the WHAC. UNOH leads the NAIA in doubles with 99, is 7^th in total runs scored with 291, and 9^th in the hits category with 439. The team combines for a batting average of .335, led by Grace Jackson with .396 with 44 hits, 28 RBI, and a .649 slugging percentage. The Racers and Golden Eagles split last year's doubleheader.
 
Home Runs The Golden Eagles didn't hit a home run in the first 22 games, and have since hit four home runs. Two off the bat of Lexi Lieske and one for Mackenzie Vallad and Jessica Wright.

Freshmen bats
Freshmen Alicia Ontiveros and Lexi Lieske lead the team in batting average in conference play, with Ontiveros batting .306 and Lieske batting .350 with a whopping .800 slugging percentage.

Home field opener
After having a handful of games moved due to poor field conditions, the Golden Eagles hope to play at least a couple games on their home field this week.
 
 
Softball Contact: Seth Walters
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