KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Cornerstone continued its 13-game spring break trip with a split on Saturday, defeating Briar Cliff 5-3 before an 11-3 setback to Florida National. The split brings Cornerstone to 2-1 overall heading into Sunday's break from action. The team will pick it back up on Monday against two Crossroad Cougar teams in Mount Vernon and Spring Arbor. 

GAME ONE: Cornerstone 5 – Briar Cliff 3

Game flow:

• Courtney Ducharme pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the first inning, surrendering only one run. 
• McKenzie Butgereit gave the Golden Eagles a 2-1 lead in the 4th inning with a two RBI double to center field.
• The Chargers tied the game in the 4th inning, but Ducharme was once again able to limit the damage by leaving the bases loaded. 
• Lexi Lieske and Sierra Sanchez hit back-to-back solo home runs to start the 6th inning. The Golden Eagles added a run on a wild pitch to make it 5-2. 
• After cutting the deficit to 5-3, Briar Cliff had runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Kaitlin Johnson ended the game with back-to-back strikeouts, leaving the would-be tying runners in scoring position.

Pitcher's lines:

• Courtney Ducharme: 6.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 8 K, 5 BB
• Kaitlin Johnson: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 K, 0 BB

Notable:

• Courtney Ducharme recorded a career high eight strikeouts.
• Lexi Lieske, McKenzie Butgereit, and Molly Poole all had two hits.
• Erin VanderWeele made her collegiate debut by starting at 3rd base. 
• Nathalie Ferry scored a run in her first collegiate appearance .

 

GAME OVER!

With the tying runs in scoring position, Kaitlin Johnson records back-to-back strikeouts to seal the game! 5-3 final! #TogetherweSOAR pic.twitter.com/lo1IPx1xRk

— Cornerstone Softball (@Cornerstone_SB) February 29, 2020

GAME TWO: Cornerstone 3 – Florida National 11 (6 innings)

Game flow:

• Hannah May got the Golden Eagles on the board first with a two-run home run in the first inning. 
• Alessa Buchner extended the lead to 3-0 with an RBI bloop single in the second inning. 
• Florida National flipped the script in the 3rd inning with six runs, half of which were unearned. 
• FNU scored two runs in the 4th and three in the 6th to end the game due to mercy rule. 

Pitcher's lines:

• Ashley Loera: 2.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER
• Mikayla Meade: 3.2 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2 K

Notable:

• Shylin Robirds scored her first run as a Golden Eagle
• Mikayla Meade pitched 3.2 innings in relief in her first CU appearance. 
• Sierra Sanchez has recorded an extra base hit in each of the first three games.

What's Next
Cornerstone (2-1) will return to Fortune Road Complex on Monday for a 10:00 game against Mount Vernon and a 12:30 game against Spring Arbor. 

Softball Contact: Seth Walters
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