GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – It was an exciting day at De Witt field as both offenses took off despite Cornerstone falling 12-10 against Aquinas in ten innings. The home opener was a late add to the schedule, and was a nonconference game. The Saints got off to a hot start, taking an early 7-2 before the Golden Eagles clawed their way back to eventually tie the game 10-10 in the bottom of the eighth. Aquinas was then able to finish the game by scoring two runs in the top of the tenth followed by striking out the CU side in the latter half of the inning. Cornerstone now moves to 8-11 on the season.

Aquinas – 12 | Cornerstone – 10 | F/10

• Caden Ritsema got off to a strong start on the mound, taking down the Saints 1-2-3 on a ground out, pop out, and fly out.
• The Golden Eagle did not waste time getting on the board, scoring two runs on three hits in the bottom of the first.
• Jake Collins drove in the first run for CU on a poke to right field, bringing Trenton Gilman home.
• Next up to bat was Isaac Tayes, and he continued to put the ball in play delivering Austin Hurt home on a sacrifice fly to center field.
• Aquinas got on the board and cut the Cornerstone lead in half, 2-1, when a fielder's choice play brought a Saint across the plate in the top of the second.
• AQ's bats got hot in the top of the third when they scored six runs on five hits while benefitting from a Golden Eagle error. The Saints capitalizing on a few singles and sacrifice flies to accrue the 7-2 lead.
• It took Cornerstone a couple more innings before they were able to strike again. After an Austin Hurt single, Jake Collins delivered a triple to left field, bringing Hurt home to cut the AQ lead to 7-3. 
• Then, Isaac Tayes delivered his second sacrifice fly of the game with a shot to right field that brought Collins home, leaving Aquinas with just a three-run lead at 7-4.
• Aquinas got into a fortunate situation in the top of the sixth with a lead-off double and then back-to-back hit batsmen, giving the Saints the bases loaded.
• AQ was only able to procure one run in the inning on single to right field. CU was able to get out of the jam with a couple strikeouts to stop the bleeding with Aquinas up 8-4.
• CU responded with fireworks in the bottom of the sixth. After getting the bases loaded, Austin Hurt was walked in five pitches, which brought a run home.
• Then, on the first pitch of the next at bat, Jake Collins delivering a double into deep left field, driving home two runs to cut the Aquinas lead to one, 8-7.
• In the bottom of the seventh, Cornerstone delivered again when speedy Trenton Gilman hit a triple down the right field line, bringing home a run and tying up the game at 8-8.
• In the top of the eighth, Aquinas regained the lead on a two-run homerun over the 375 sign in right center to go up 10-8.
• The bottom of the eighth proved fruitful for the Golden Eagles, when Austin Hurt scored after an AQ error to cut the Saints lead to one.
• A couple batters later, Cornerstone evened up the game at 10-10 after Grant Young hit a sacrifice fly to left field, bringing home the tying run.
• Then in the tenth, Aquinas scored two runs after a triple to take a 12-10 lead. Then in the bottom of the tenth, AQ struck out the side to finish the game and take the win.

By the Numbers:
28 – Combined hits by the Golden Eagles and Saints, with each team recording 14 hits. 
4 – RBI for Jake Collins to go along with four hits on the day for the redshirt junior.
4 – Extra base hits by CU on the day. 
 
What's Next?
Cornerstone is slated to host a double header against Siena Heights this Saturday, March 19 with game one set for 1 p.m. Weather could be an issue, so make sure to stay tuned to @cuathletics social media channels and cugoldeneagles.com for more updates.
 
Baseball Contact: Jesse Campbell 
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