ADRIAN, Mich. – The Golden Eagles combined for 23 runs and 32 hits on Tuesday afternoon as they earned 11-8 and 12-8 victories in a conference double-header at Siena Heights. The wins push Cornerstone above .500 at 8-6 overall and 3-1 in WHAC play. Cornerstone returns home to take on Lourdes this Saturday as they begin a seven game home stand with the Gray Wolves starting at 1 p.m. on April 3.
Game One – Cornerstone – 11 Siena Heights - 8
- The first inning was clean for both teams, as after Chandler McKinney hit the first batter he recorded a fly out, pop out, and ground out to keep it 0-0 after one.
- In the second, SHU found the scoreboard first with an RBI single from Malone to make it 1-0.
- CU immediately responded in the third with a sacrifice fly from Eric Bradberry and a pair of RBI singles from Jordan Wenzel and Austin Hurt to make it 3-1.
- Malone continued his tear for the Saints with a two RBI double in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at three. Later Malone scored on an error to give the Saints the 4-3 lead.
- Eric Bradberry and Austin Hurt each homered in the fifth to give the Golden Eagles the edge back at 7-4.
- Starter Chandler McKinney left the game after 5.1 innings pitched where he gave up three earned runs with nine ground outs and six fly outs.
- Austin Hurt continued to dominate at the plate, increasing the CU lead with a two RBI single and then later scoring on a wild pitch to make it 10-4.
- Another SHU wild pitch scored JC Salinas in the seventh for the Golden Eagles largest lead of the game at 11-4.
- Siena Heights responded with four runs in the bottom of the eighth, getting to the Cornerstone bullpen, but Colin Schwartz settled things down in the bottom of the ninth earning his first save to give CU the 11-8 game one victory.
Game Two – Cornerstone – 12 Siena Heights - 8
- Similarly to game one, both starting pitchers had a clean first inning, as Caden Ritsema walked just one but recorded a pop out to keep things tied 0-0.
- In the second inning, Cornerstone erupted for seven runs highlighted by a three RBI double from Jordan Wenzel and RBI triple from Austin Hurt to make it 7-0.
- Ritsema's clean bill of work ended in the fourth, as Siena Heights recorded a pair of RBI singles and walked in a run to cut the CU lead to just three at 7-4.
- Ben Cunningham and Dylan VandenBerg came in relief and despite giving up a few hits, held SHU to the four runs over the next two innings.
- The Cornerstone offense continued to pour it on scoring in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to make it 12-4. Grant Young, George Cutler, and Eric Bradberry all had RBI singles while Landon Poll and Jordan Wenzel each had RBI doubles.
- Siena Heights began to chip away in the seventh, scoring three runs on a ground out, sacrifice fly, and an interference call to make it 12-7. Dylan VandenBerg was unable to get out of the inning as he was replaced by Andrew VanDyke who recorded the final out to keep it 12-7.
- The bullpen continued to struggle for CU, as Siena Heights was able to find one more run in the eighth to make it 12-8.
- Redshirt senior Jared Riley loaded the bases to begin the bottom of the ninth, but responded to strike out the side to secure the 12-8 game two victory for Cornerstone.
By the Numbers:
11 –
Jordan Wenzel and
Austin Hurt combined for 11 RBI in today's double-header.
6 –
JC Salinas led the team with six hits, including a four hit game two.
3 –
Jared Riley struck out the side to end game two and secure the victory.
What's Next?
Cornerstone returns home to De Witt Field to host Lourdes for a conference double-header on Saturday, April 3 starting at 1 p.m.
Baseball Contact: Jesse Campbell
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