GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A three game set with nationally ranked conference opponent Northwestern Ohio highlights another busy week for Cornerstone. The Golden Eagles will start the week on the road at Bethel on Tuesday for their final non-conference double-header of the year before returning home to take on the Racers on Friday and Saturday. Stay tuned for potential scheduling changes, throughout the week as weather conditions could play a factor in this week's baseball schedule.

Scouting Bethel
Bethel College is a member of the Crossroads conference and sits in the middle of the pack overall with a 14-8 overall record and a 5-7 conference record. The Pilots are known for their offense, as they rank top 10 in the nation in triples per game, hits per game, and team batting average. Bethel has scored 188 runs this season in 22 games, which is 65 more runs then their opponents have scored this season. Individually, Austin Branock has been one of the best in the nation offensively this season ranking second in the nation with a .513 batting average.  Branock has also recorded 25 RBI and a team best 32 runs scored this season. The pitching staff for BC has seen two standouts as well, as starters Caleb Macpherson and Jared Laurnet have each recorded three wins with an ERA under three.
 
Scouting Northwestern Ohio
UNOH has been the best in the WHAC this year and one of the best in the nation, as the senior laden team has gone 26-10 and 16-1 in conference play to rank no. 17 in the NAIA. The offense for the Racers has been incredible of late, scoring 10 or more runs in five of their last six games. Jeff Cardenas and Jose Paulino both bat above .400 this season for UNOH, as they combine to lead the team in RBI, runs, and hits. The pitching for Northwestern Ohio has been dominant as well, highlighted by starter Damon Proctor has gone a perfect 7-0 and with a 1.92 ERA. UNOH is coming off a first place finish in the WHAC as they look to win the conference for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
 
History vs. this Week's Opponents
The Golden Eagles will be taking on non-conference opponent Bethel College for the first time in the schools history this week. CU starting the program back up in 2013 has never played the Pilots from Mishawaka, Indiana. Against Northwestern Ohio, CU has struggled going just 2-11 all-time vs. the conference opponent.
 
Last Week Recap
Cornerstone completed a busy seven game week, going 5-2 overall with a pair of losses to no. 24 Indiana Tech followed by a two game sweep of Cleary and a three game sweep of Rochester. The Golden Eagles are now 15-19 on the year and 8-8 in conference play, as they continue to sit in seventh place in the WHAC. Cornerstone will play their last non-conference series at Bethel College this week along with a three game set vs. #17 Northwestern Ohio.
 
Dominant Pitching
The young Golden Eagle pitching staff has been dominant in their current five game winning streak, allowing just seven runs to opponents through those five games. CU has also thrown two shutouts in the streak, and the Freshman have stepped up as Zach Brog and Alan LaBov gave up just a total of one run in their starts. Starters Collin Young and Clay Keltner also had strong outings this past week, as Young went a complete game one-hitter on his way to a win and Keltner went 6.0 innings giving up just two hits in a win. 
 
Winning Streak
The Golden Eagles have now won five straight games after sweeping Cleary in a double-header on Wednesday and Rochester in a triple-header on Saturday. This is the longest winning streak of the season for Cornerstone. The longest winning streak in CU program history came last season when Cornerstone won seven straight from April 1st through April 16.
 
Success at Home
Despite having a small sampling size of games at home this season, CU has been dominant on their home turf recording an 8-2 record. The only home losses for Cornerstone came to no. 24 Indiana Tech. CU is just 3-9 on the road this season and 4-8 in neutral site games.
 
Senior Power
The only three seniors on the Cornerstone roster have been dominant so far this season. Center fielder Jonny Abbadusky, right fielder Evan Wagner, and designated hitter Seth Reigner currently sit 1-2-3 in batting average for the Golden Eagles this season. Abbadusky leads the team with a .388 BA to go along with a team high   45 hits, 27 runs, and .489 OB%. Wagner is second on the team in average at .348, as he has recorded 24 hits in 69 at bats. Reigner is right behind them with a .343 average, recording 12 hits in 35 at bats with three of those being doubles.
 
Keltner's Hitless Streak
Sophomore Clay Keltner has taken control of his  role as a primary starting pitcher for the Golden Eagles this season. Keltner in his last two outings has given up a total of just two hits, as he went 12.0 consecutive hitless innings. On the year Keltner leads the Golden Eagles in wins with three to go along with a 5.12 ERA.
 
Stewart Enters history
Junior Jon Stewart has entered Golden Eagle history as he has recorded a franchise best 35 RBI this season. The previous record holder was Tommy Enslen with 31, as Enslen now serves as the hitting coach for the Golden Eagles. Stewart is hitting .414 (24-58) with runners on base and .778 (7-9) with the bases loaded. In his first two seasons combined, Stewart recorded a total of just 17 RBI.
 
Young's One Hit Performance
Clay Keltner is not the only pitcher who has been dominant as of late, as Collin Young went 7.0 innings allowing just one hit in his last outing. The sophomore from Lancaster, Ohio leads the Golden Eagles in ERA at 3.29 this season. Young also records a 2-1 record with 27 strikeouts this season.
 
 
Baseball Contact: Jesse Campbell 
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