GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.  – The Golden Eagles played in two exciting games on a cold day at the Cornerstone softball field. CU split their double header with Siena Heights winning 6-3 in game one and then falling 9-8 in game two. Mikayla Meade recorded the win in game one after coming to finish the game and getting help from a late Golden Eagle comeback. In game two, CU braved the weather in a comeback bid that fell just short in the bottom of the seventh before they fell by one run. After today's action, the Golden Eagles move to 10-8-1 overall, 5-1 in the WHAC.
 
Game One: Cornerstone – 6 | Siena Heights – 3

• Siena Height threatened early with a leadoff double, but Kaitlin Johnson expertly got out of the inning and was able to retire the next five batters to keep the Saints off the board early.
• In the bottom of the third, Cornerstone was able to light up the scoreboard when McKenzie Butgereit singled to right field, bringing Jolie Groeneveld and Mackenzie Nagelhout across the plate for a 2-0 Golden Eagle lead.
• The bats were quiet for both teams over the next few innings, but then Siena Heights took the lead in the top of the sixth. The Saints had back-to-back home runs, scoring three runs to take a 3-2 lead heading into the last inning of play.
• In the bottom of the sixth, CU responded and was able to tie the game at 3-3 when Delaney Wilson hit a triple, driving home pinch runner Shylin Robirds.
• Jocelyn Hernandez helped the Golden Eagles retake the lead when she drove a double to right center, sending Allisen Martz and Delaney Wilson home for a 5-3 lead.
• Molly Poole continued the late-inning onslaught with a double to center, adding another run when Maddie Chatman crossed home plate, bringing the CU lead to 6-3. 
• After shutting down the Saints in the top of the seventh, Cornerstone walked away with a comeback win 6-3.

Game Two: Siena Heights – 9 | Cornerstone – 8

• Cornerstone got off to a swell start in the bottom of the first when Mackenzie Nagelhout tripled to right center, bringing the speedy Jolie Groeneveld home for an early 1-0 lead.
• Sydney Carr put the ball in later two batter later, and was able to advance Nagelhout home after an error on the SHU pitcher to put CU up 2-0.
• No one scored for another few innings until the Saints were able to benefit from a home run and another run to tie the game up at 2-2 in the top of the fifth.
• Cornerstone would not be silent as they had back-to-back jacks in the bottom of the fifth when Sydney Carr and Delaney Wilson went deep to regain the lead at 4-2.
• The top of the seventh saw SHU get hot again, scoring five runs on four hits, with two of those being home runs. That led Siena Heights to take a 9-4 lead.
• In the bottom of the seventh, with the snow starting to come down, CU would show some fight, starting with Sydney Carr hitting a single and bringing Nagelhout home to cut the lead to 9-5.
• Then, Delaney Wilson continued to have a hot bat with a triple down the right field line that drove home two runs and cut the Saints lead to 9-7.
• The Golden Eagles would score one more run after an error, but would not be able to score any more as they fell in game two 9-8.

 
By the Numbers:
8 – Strikeouts for CU in game one, with Kaitlin Johnson recording seven of those.
5 – Home runs combined by both teams, with Siena Heights hitting three and Sydney Carr and Delaney Wilson hitting HRs for the Golden Eagles. 
3 – Jolie Groeneveld stole two three bases on the day to lead the team. 
 
What's Next?
Cornerstone is scheduled for a WHAC double-header at rival Aquinas on Wednesday, April 6. First pitch of game one is slated for 3:30 p.m. 
 
Softball Contact: Jesse Campbell 
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