LIVONIA, Mich. – The Golden Eagles recorded their first WHAC Tournament victory since the program restarted in 2013 defeating the three seed Lawrence Tech 3-2. CU then fell in game two 5-2 to the Pod B host Madonna after the Crusaders scored four runs in the eighth to take the lead. CU and Madonna will play tomorrow at noon as Lawrence Tech has officially been eliminated from the tournament. If CU wins they will play one more against Madonna, if they lose the season will come to an end.
Game One vs. Lawrence Tech
- Jared Riley got the start in game one in last-minute switch due to Noah Reed having to leave as his wife went into labor.
- Both starters were dominant in the first three innings of play as the two teams allowed just three hits to keep the game scoreless.
- In the fourth, LTU got on the board after a run came home on a double play ball to make it 1-0.
- In the top of the fifth the Blue Devils added a second run on a fielder's choice to make it 2-0.
- In the bottom of the sixth the Golden Eagles responded in a big way, as Gabe Zeiger and Trevor Bastien recorded back-to-back singles and Austin Hurt brought them home with a three-run bomb to make it 3-2. This was Hurt's fourth HR of the season.
- After a lead-off single given up by Jared Riley in the top of the seventh, Chandler McKinney came in to pitch and was able to get out of the inning to keep the Golden Eagles 3-2 lead.
- Riley ended his day with a solid outing going 6.0 innings, allowing seven hits, two runs, one earned run, while striking out two batters.
- Chandler McKinney would pitch the final three innings and keep Lawrence Tech scoreless to give CU their first win in WHAC Tournament history, 3-2 vs. Lawrence Tech.
Game Two vs. Madonna
- Cornerstone got off to a good start in game two scoring a run in the top of the second inning on an RBI single by Trevor Bastien.
- The Golden Eagles then added two more runs in the sixth with a pair of RBI singles from Dustin DeBeau and Brandon Hepp to make it 3-0.
- Collin Young continued his dominant season pitching six innings of two hit scoreless baseball to hold the 3-0 lead.
- Madonna scored a run to cut the deficit to two in the bottom of the seventh after a passed ball and an error.
- Alan LaBov came in to relieve in the eighth and that is where Madonna made a comeback scoring four runs in the eighth to go on top 5-3.
- CU got a runner on in the top of the ninth but a pair of strikeouts ended the game and resulted in a 5-3 loss in the second game of the day.
By the Numbers
6.0 – Both of CU's starters in
Jared Riley and
Collin Young went 6+ innings of working, giving up a total of just three runs.
1 –
Chandler McKinney earned his first save as a Golden Eagle with three scoreless innings of baseball.
4 –
Austin Hurt hit his fourth HR of the year with a three-run bomb that proved to be the difference in the win against Lawrence Tech.
3 – Three Golden Eagles recorded multi-hit games in today's double-header.
What's Next?
The Golden Eagles will play for their playoff lives tomorrow afternoon as they will take on Madonna at noon. If the Golden Eagles win they will play Madonna one more time, if they lose the season will come to an end for CU.
Baseball Contact: Jesse Campbell
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