The Golden Eagles will look to resume outdoor action this week with a pair of WHAC doubleheaders. Cornerstone is scheduled to play 18 games in the next 18 days after three doubleheaders scheduled for early April were postponed due to inclement weather. They'll begin the busy stretch of the season by traveling to Madonna on Wednesday before hosting Concordia on Saturday. Live links for this week's action are linked below. 

Opponent: Madonna
Date: Wednesday, April 11 (DH)
Times: 3:30 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.
Location: Livonia, Mich. (Madonna Athletic Complex)
Internet Coverage: Live Stats and Video

Opponent: Concordia
Date: Saturday, April 14 (DH)
Times: 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.
Location: Grand Rapids, Mich. (CU Softball Field)
Internet Coverage: Live Stats, Live Video (CSPN) & Twitter 

Scouting Madonna
Head Coach Jerry Abraham is in his 10th season at the helm of the program. This year, Abraham's team placed 3rd in the WHAC preseason poll, just two points off UNOH and UM-Dearborn, who were tied for first. In 2017, The Crusaders came in second place in the regular season and tournament behind only ex-WHAC member Davenport. Madonna has a 14-10 overall, 2-2 WHAC record so far in 2018. In conference play, the Crusaders were swept by UNOH before recently sweeping Indiana Tech. The team's batting average of .292 is 5th-best in the WHAC, led by Kattie Popko (.397) and Halee Warren (.373). Popko leads the team in hits with 23, while Warren is slugging .725 with a team-high 21 RBI. Freshman Ciera Jones has the 4th-best ERA in the WHAC with an impressive 1.57, giving up only 11 earned runs in 49 innings of work. 

History vs. Madonna
Since 2001, Madonna leads the series with a 40-23 record against CU. Since 2008, the Crusaders have won 26 of the 29 matchups against the Golden Eagles. Notable games in recent history include #RV Madonna defeating Cornerstone 5-4 in 17 innings on April 29, 2016. Just a week later, Cornerstone defeated #RV Madonna 7-5 in the WHAC tournament. 

Scouting Concordia
Concordia (8-13 overall, 1-1 WHAC) has only played two games in the past 26 days. The Cardinals split their lone WHAC doubleheader with Lawrence Tech back on March 28. Concordia is led in the circle by Samantha Eubanks, who has an ERA of 1.34 (2nd in WHAC) and a .199 batting average against. Offensively, the Cardinals team batting average of .242 is the worst in the WHAC. Megan Laib leads the team with a .385 batting average, 11 RBI, and a .654 slugging percentage. 

History vs. Concordia
Cornerstone has won 43 of the 62 games since the 2001 season. Since 2012, however, Concordia has won 11 of the 15 games. The Cardinals and Golden Eagles split the doubleheader in 2017, with both games being decided by a single run. 


NOTES ABOUT THE GOLDEN EAGLES

Back on Pace: After going 0-4 while being outscored 29-4 in the first four games of the season, the Golden Eagles have won eight of their last 12 games to bring their overall record to 8-8. Over that 12-game stretch, they have outscored their opponents 51-37.

Underclassmen Contribution: The freshmen and sophomore classes have combined for 80 hits while the upperclassmen have only 30 hits. The underclassmen are batting .285 on the season.

Maddie Vassar leading the way: The starting freshman shortstop leads the team in hits with 17 and runs with 15. Vassar has had six multi-run games, and six multi-hit games in her first season as a Golden Eagle.

McKena Razenberg gettin' on base: The sophomore center fielder has 10 hits, which already matches her total from last season. Razenberg leads the team in on-base percentage with .410

Career-high for Leonard: Brooke Leonard struck out a career-high nine batters in a 5-3 victory over LTU on Wednesday. Her previous record was eight when she pitched a one-hitter vs. Trinity International as a freshman in 2015.

Solid Pitching: The Cornerstone pitching staff has an ERA of 3.12, good for 4th-best in the WHAC. Rachel Younts leads the team with a 1.83 ERA.

Big Day for Younts: Rachel Younts had a big day in the circle and at the plate against LTU on Wednesday. She went 5-for-7 at the plate with four RBI, including the go-ahead RBI single in the 8th inning of game one. In the circle in game two, she allowed five hits and one unearned run in the win.

Freshman Sluggers: Freshmen Sierra Sanchez and Courtney Ducharme both lead the team with five extra-base hits. Sanchez has a slugging percentage of .526 while Ducharme is slugging .465.

Double Trouble: Cornerstone has recorded a double in each of their last five games.