WINTERHAVEN, Fla. – The Golden Eagles saw temperatures in the 90's in a Wednesday double-header as the team split with Ave Maria, falling 15-5 in game one and winning 6-3 in game two. Cornerstone moves to 5-13 overall on the year as they get set for an off day tomorrow before closing out the trip with a pair of double-headers on Friday and Saturday. Friday's double-header will be back in Auburndale against another school from Florida in Trinity Baptist. Action starts at 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon.
Game One – Ave Maria – 15 Cornerstone - 5
- Ave Maria wasted no time putting pressure on Cornerstone, recording back-to-back singles and stolen bases to score a run and take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
- Pitcher and DH Jared Halteman scored later in the first inning on a wild pitch by Jared Riley that made it 2-0.
- The struggles continued in the second inning for CU as Jared Halteman hit a sacrifice fly to score Nicholas Soles and make it 3-0.
- In each of the first two innings, Cornerstone got a runner to third but was unable to score as the game remained 3-0 Ave Maria after two full innings of play.
- Nicholas Soles hit a bloop single in the top of the third to score another Ave Maria run and make it 4-0.
- Ave Maria continued to put pressure on starter Jared Riley, as a leadoff walk came around to score on an Alex Perez double to make it 5-0. Riley was relieved later in the inning by Michael Foster.
- Three more runs scored off Michael Foster in the top of the fourth to give Ave Maria the 8-0 advantage.
- Jason Gross came in to pitch the top of the fifth, but the struggles continued for Cornerstone as the temperature continued to rise as the Gyrenes scored three more runs in the inning to go on top 11-0.
- Cain Ruiz scored on a Kyle DeSchryver ground out and Jordan Wenzel scored on an Isaac Tayes single in the bottom of the fifth for Cornerstone's first two runs of the game to make it 11-2.
- Ave Maria kept their streak alive of scoring in every inning, adding two more on a two RBI double from Ethan Bergkamp to make it 13-2.
- The Gyrenes scored in every inning with two more in the seventh to make it 15-2.
- In the bottom of the inning Landon Poll recorded a bases clearing triple that scored three and made it 15-5. The game would end there as CU fell in game one.
Game Two – Cornerstone – 6 Ave Maria – 2
- Andrew VanDyke got the start in game two and kept Ave Maria scoreless in the first inning, becoming the first CU pitcher to keep the Gyrenes off the board in a turn at bat on the day.
- Clayton Coatney walked in the top of the second inning and the curtosey runner Josh Magley made it all the way to third base, but they were unable to score him as the score remained 0-0.
- Cornerstone got on the board first in the third inning as Jordan Wenzel grounded into a fielder's choice to score Austin Hurt from third and make it 1-0.
- CU added another run in the fourth, as Austin Hurt hit a deep sacrifice fly to center field that scored Trenton Gilman to bring the score to 2-0.
- In a bases loaded situation later in the fourth, Cornerstone recorded their first hit of the game on an Evan Shirley infield single that scored Landon Poll to make it 3-0 and force an Ave Maria pitching change.
- After the pitching change, the floodgates opened for the Golden Eagles as Grant Young scored on a wild pitch and then Jordan Wenzel recorded a two RBI double that brought home Cain Ruiz and Evan Shirley to bring the score to 6-0.
- Andrew VanDyke continued a strong outing, going four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, while striking out three.
- In the fifth, Ave Maria found the scoreboard on an RBI double from Jared Halteman to make it 6-1 in favor of Cornerstone. Later in the inning, an RBI single by Alden Hickey scored Halteman and made it 6-2.
- VanDyke ended his outing with 5.0 innings, pitched, five hits, two earned runs, and four strikeouts. Zach Brog came in as relief in the sixth inning.
- Zach Brog did the job, pitching two innings in relief allowing just one run to give the Golden Eagles the 6-3 game two victory.
By the Numbers
3-7 – Freshman
Jordan Wenzel stayed hot, going 3-7 on the day with three RBI.
18 –
Jordan Wenzel has recorded a hit in every single game this season for an 18 game-hitting streak.
5-0 – Ave Maria stole five bases in game one, and did not record a steal in game two.
What's Next?
Cornerstone has a day off tomorrow before hitting the home stretch of their time in the Russ Matt tournament. They will take on Trinity Baptist College on Friday, March 6 for a double-header starting at 3 p.m.
Baseball Contact: Jesse Campbell
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