GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Cornerstone continued its non-conference slate on Saturday afternoon with two games against Saint Francis. The Golden Eagles struggled in the first game and fell 12-2 due to mercy rule. A nine-run sixth inning in game two propelled the team to an 11-4 victory to salvage the split. Cornerstone's record sits at 7-3 as they prepare for a road trip next weekend that will feature a Friday doubleheader at Olivet Nazarene and a Saturday doubleheader at St. Francis of Illinois.
Game one: Cornerstone 2 – Saint Francis 12 (5 innings)
- An inside the park home run highlighted a four-run first inning for the Cougars.
- Saint Francis doubled their score in the second inning by plating another four runs to lead 8-0.
- Sierra Sanchez got CU on the board with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning to make it 8-1.
- Three more runs came in for USF in the fourth inning to push the lead to 11-1.
- The Cougars scored another run in the top of the fifth inning to make it 12-1.
- Sierra Sanchez drove in her second RBI of the game with a base hit up the middle in the bottom of the inning to make it 12-2, but the game ended shortly thereafter by way of mercy rule.
Game two: Cornerstone 11 – Saint Francis 6
- Alessa Buchner got the Golden Eagles on the board with a two-run home run in the first inning.
- The Cougars scored a run in each of the second, third, and fourth innings to take a 3-2 lead.
- Saint Francis threatened to break the game open with the bases loaded and nobody out in the sixth inning. Cornerstone escaped the jam with limited damage, surrendering only one run to make it 4-2 in favor of Saint Francis.
- Aliyah Lemmer started the scoring party in the sixth inning with an RBI single up the middle.
- Allisen Martz evened the game at 4-4 thanks to an RBI bunt single.
- Sierra Sanchez gave CU a 6-4 lead with a two-RBI single to left field.
- Bailey Anson and Kaitlin Johnson were responsible for the next two runs with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch for Anson and an RBI fielder's choice for Johnson to make it 8-4 CU.
- Sydney Carr capped off the big inning with a three-RBI double to right field to give CU an 11-4 lead.
- Saint Francis scored a couple more runs in the top of the seventh inning but Cornerstone finished on top 11-6.
- Mikayla Meade pitched five innings, surrendering five hits and three earned runs. Ashley Loera earned the win in relief, pitching the final two innings and surrendering three hits and two earned runs.
By the Numbers:
3 –
Sydney Carr went 3-for-5 over both games with two doubles and three RBI.
4 – Four RBI for
Sierra Sanchez with a pair in each game today. Four multi-RBI games so far this season for Sanchez.
7 – Seven wins in the first ten games matches the program's best start since going 7-3 in 2015.
9 – Nine runs in an inning is the most for Cornerstone since plating nine in the second inning against Bellevue on March 4, 2014.
What's Next?
Cornerstone (7-3) will prepare for a road trip next weekend that will feature a Friday doubleheader at Olivet Nazarene and a Saturday doubleheader at St. Francis of Illinois.
