AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The Golden Eagles took on Crossroads League foe Bethel University on Saturday morning and earned a split. CU came back in game one, putting up five runs in the bottom of the fourth to win 6-5. In game two, Bethel returned the favor with five of their own in the bottom of the fourth to win 8-2. Cornerstone is now 3-9 on the year as they are off tomorrow before taking on Mount Vernon Nazarene and Judson for the second time on Monday in a pair of nine inning games.
Game One – Cornerstone – 6 Bethel – 5
- Bethel recorded the first hit of the game in the second inning off starter Mike Modert and it was a big one, as two runs scored on a Jackson Wahl double to make it 2-0 Pilots.
- On the first two pitches of the third inning, Bethel singled to left and then followed that up with a two-run home run to left center by Mike Wathier, making it 4-0.
- Modert exited in the top of the third, recording two innings of work allowing four earned runs. Michael Foster came in as relief.
- Evan Shirley got the Golden Eagles first hit of the game in the bottom of the third, and nearly scored Cain Ruiz, but a great throw from the Pilots left fielder gunned him out at home and kept the score 4-0.
- Later in the inning however, Kyle DeSchryver doubled to score Evan Shirley and get CU on the board 4-1.
- Bethel was able to get another run in the top of the fourth after three straight singles to make it 5-1.
- After Bethel starter Kory Goodrich began to struggle throwing strikes, freshman Landon Poll took advantage with a bases loaded single that scored two and cut the deficit to 5-3.
- The bottom of the fourth continued against the Bethel bullpen with a bases loaded walk for Jordan Wenzel and a two RBI double for Kyle DeSchryver to put CU in the lead 6-5. Cornerstone tallied five total runs in the inning.
- Bethel got a runner to third in the top of the sixth, but Zach Brog recorded a pair of huge strikeouts to keep the Golden Eagles on top 6-5.
- In the top of the seventh Zach Brog allowed two more base runners to get on but a huge double-play ended the inning and gave CU the 6-5 game one win and Zach Brog his first collegiate save.
Game Two –Bethel – 8 Cornerstone - 2
- Two first inning errors by Cornerstone allowed Bethel to get on the board first in game two, scoring two on a pop single and a liner up the middle.
- Just like in game one, Cornerstone responded to tie the game. Kyle DeSchryver singled and Isaac Tayes grounded out in the top of the third to score Landon Poll and Jordan Wenzel, tying the game at 2-2.
- Bethel regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth as the nine hitter Jackson Wahl hit a fly ball that just stayed fair in left and scored Luke Adams to make it 3-2.
- Another run crossed the plate in the bottom of the fourth for the Pilots on a single to center field from Kawambee Moss to give BU the 4-2 advantage.
- Starter Andrew VanDyke could not weather the storm as five total runs ended up scoring for Bethel in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it 7-2. Jackson Helder came in to record the final out and get CU out of the inning.
- Cornerstone loaded the bases in the top of the fifth, but Bethel starter Justin Rasmussen recorded back-to-back strikeouts to get out of it and help the Pilots maintain a 7-2 lead.
- Clayton Schwiebert put in solid work in the bottom of the sixth, allowing just one run to cross in a bases loaded no out jam, as Bethel took an 8-2 advantage.
- CU had no answer to the Bethel bullpen in the top of the seventh, falling 8-2 in game two.
By the Numbers
4 –
Kyle DeSchryver led the team with four RBI on the day going 5-7 at the plate.
2 –
Michael Foster is 2-0 on the mound this season.
4-13 –
Evan Shirley has gone 4-13 ever since moving to the lead-off spot and has improved his batting average to .261 on the season.
.415 –
Kyle DeSchryver leads the team with a .415 batting average in 2020.
What's Next?
Cornerstone has an off day tomorrow before picking up Russ Matt action on Monday with games against Mount Vernon Nazarene and Judson at 9:15 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. in Auburndale.
Baseball Contact: Jesse Campbell
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