WINTERHAVEN, Fla. – The Golden Eagles responded after falling in walk-off fashion in game one, putting up a 10 spot in game two to win 10-3.
Clayton Coatney highlighted the offense with four RBI and a run scored. CU is now 2-8 on the year as they get set to return to Auburndale tomorrow for their earliest double-header yet starting at 9:30 a.m. against Bethel University of Indiana.
Game One –Trinity Christian – 4 Cornerstone – 3
- Trinity Christian was able to get runners to second in each of the first two innings on starter Jared Riley, but a great throw from catcher Austin Hurt in the first and a pair of strikeouts in the second from Riley helped CU keep the game scoreless after two innings of play.
- Cornerstone threatened in the third with a double from Jordan Wenzel but could not score.
- Trinity Christian scored the first run in the bottom of the third, after Morgan Nowit walked, stole a base, advanced on a passed ball, and scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-0.
- Jared Riley's infield of Grant Young and Evan Shirley turned a huge double-play in the fourth to keep TCC off the board and keep it 1-0.
- CU got on the board to tie the game in the sixth as Clayton Coatney hit a bloop single to right field that scored Jordan Wenzel to make it 1-1.
- The Golden Eagles loaded the bases later in the inning, and Trenton Gilman came in and scored on a wild pitch from the Trinity Christian starter to give CU the 2-1 lead.
- Some sloppy play by the Golden Eagles in the bottom of the sixth allowed two runs to cross for the Trolls and gave them the lead back, 3-2.
- Down to the final out, Trenton Gilman recorded a huge RBI double scoring Cain Ruiz and keeping the Golden Eagles alive tying the game 3-3. CU left runners on second and third as the two teams went to the bottom of the seventh tied at three.
- Jared Riley, Derryk Vanderjagt, and Zach Brog all pitched in the bottom of the seventh. Brog came in with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning and got the strikeout he needed, but TCC scored the game winning run as the final strike was a wild pitch that brought home the runner from third.
Game Two –Cornerstone – 10 Trinity Christian - 3
- Cornerstone responded with the first two runs of game two, as Jordan Wenzel and Kyle DeSchryver each scored on a Trenton Gilman two RBI single.
- CU added to their lead in the second as Cain Ruiz singled to right field bringing home Clayton Coatney making the score 3-0.
- Four more crossed the plate in the bottom of the third, highlighted by a three RBI bases clearing double from Clayton Coatney that blew the game open and made it 7-0.
- Hunter Slaat got the Trolls their first run of game two with an RBI single down the left field line that scored Sam Herzog and made it 7-1.
- Clayton Coatney recorded his fourth RBI of the day on a groundout to short in the bottom of the fifth to make it 8-1.
- Dylan VandenBerg pitched an outstanding game, striking out four while allowing just four hits through five innings of work.
- VandenBerg finished his outing with 5.1 innings pitched, three runs (one earned), five hits, and four strikeouts in an 8-2 game.
- Caden Ritsema came in as relief to VandenBerg in the sixth and TCC scored one more unearned run that was charged to VandenBerg to cut it to 8-3.
- Cornerstone continued to pour it on against the bullpen of the trolls, scoring two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on an Isaac Tayes two RBI single to make it 10-3.
- Caden Ritsema returned to pitch the top of the seventh and made quick work of the Trolls, sitting them down 1-2-3 to secure the 10-3 game two victory.
By the Numbers
7/2 – Of the seven runs scored in game one, only two of them were earned.
2 –
Jordan Wenzel stole two bases today, one in each game.
2 –
Isaac Tayes was the only player to record a two hit game, going 2-3 with two RBI, and two runs scored in game two.
1 –
Dylan VandenBerg is the first of the freshman pitchers to get a win this season going 5.1 innings and allowing just one earned run.
What's Next?
Cornerstone has another early morning tomorrow back in Auburndale as they take on their second team from the Crossroads League in Bethel (Ind.) for a double-header. Game one first pitch is set for 9:30 a.m.
Baseball Contact: Jesse Campbell
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