GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - For the first time in 679 days, the Golden Eagles will play a home baseball game as they host Saint Xavier for four this weekend to open the 2021 campaign. Friday will be a 1 p.m. double-header and Saturday will be a noon double-header with all four contests being seven innings. The very young Cornerstone team that has just three seniors are ready to get back to a full-season after COVID-19 cut the 2020 season short. All four games will have live video and stats available. 

Fan Protocol at De Witt Field 
Cornerstone will be inviting fans to all home contests with limited seating in the stadium seats. All guests must wear a mask and fill out a screening form upon arrival. Fans are also encouraged to bring their own chairs with limited stadium seating due to the need to distance. Guests who do not comply with Cornerstone's policies are subject to being asked to leave. Cornerstone is committed to providing a safe environment in congruence with the MDHHS to keep the CU community safe. 

Last Year Recap
Before the season shut down last season, Cornerstone played 22-games in Georgia and Florida and went 7-15 in those games. CU started the trip 0-6, but rebounded to go 7-9 in the final 16 games. 

Wenzel Power
Last year, true freshman Jordan Wenzel was one of the highlights in the shortened season taking over at center field and hitting a blistering .411 at the plate. Wenzel led the team in runs, hits, total bases, slugging percentage, triples and walks. 



Catching Carousel 
One of Cornerstone's biggest flaws in the shortened 2020 season was a struggle at the catching position. CU believes they have filled that role in a big way with the return of Eric Bradberry from injury and the additions of Ben Barnes, George Cutler, and Devin Pulling to the roster. All three additions are junior college transfers with Barnes coming from Grand Rapids CC, Cutler from Kalamazoo College, and Pulling from Lake Michigan College. 



Veteran Pitching
Despite a very young roster, Cornerstone brings back some veteran pitching, as Chandler McKinney, Jared Riley, and Zach Brog all return to the roster in 2021. Brog and Riley are taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility provided by the NAIA to return this year as redshirt seniors this season. 

Scouting Saint Xavier
Saint Xavier has played nine games so far this season and gone 5-4 in those contests. SXU competes in the Chicagolands Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC), which is known for high powered offense. The Cougars this season are holding true to that so far this season averaging 7.7 runs per game and ranking 19th in the NAIA with 2.4 doubles per game. Eight SXU players are hitting above .300 this season, led by Evan Orzech who is hitting .412. The mound has been where Saint Xavier struggles as they hold a team ERA of 7.26 through nine games.