GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Golden Eagles dropped a pair of close games on Saturday afternoon falling by a total of two runs to Indiana Tech. Game one was a pitching duel that went to the Warriors 2-1, and the second game the offenses got going more as Cornerstone fell 6-5. CU is now 13-18 on the year and 6-7 in WHAC play as they will host Siena Heights on Monday for their next double-header.
Game One – Indiana Tech – 2 Cornerstone - 1
- Both sides were able to get base runners in the first inning, but the starting pitching of Brody Nelson and Zach Zaborowski kept the game scoreless.
- In the second, some early swings from the Warriors would get runners on the corners with no outs. Parker Bates later hit a sacrifice fly to score an Indiana Tech run giving them a 1-0 lead. Brody Nelson limited the damage and kept the deficit at just one.
- Parker Bates added his second RBI of the game with a home run to left field in the top of the fourth, as the Warriors added an insurance run to lead 2-0.
- The duo of Jake Collins and JC Salinas singled and doubled respectively to lead off the bottom of the fourth and spark the Golden Eagle offense. Zach Zaborowski came back with huge pitches to get the three outs needed that stranded Collins and Salinas in scoring position.
- In the top of the fifth, Jake Collins made a great through to cut down a runner trying to turn a single into a double for the second out of the inning. Brody Nelson covered the bag on a grounder and got the third out to keep the deficit at 2-0.
- Cornerstone was finally able to break onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning as Grant Young came around to score on an opposite field double from Landon Poll. Andrew Meny also tried to score from first on the play but was gunned down at the plate to keep Indiana Tech on top 2-1.
- Zach Zaborwski was able to complete the game with a strong final two innings on the mound. He prevented the Golden Eagle offense from doing anything further as CU fell 2-1 in the seven-inning contest.
Game Two – Indiana Tech – 6 Cornerstone – 5
- Indiana Tech was able to get a run in their first turn at bat against CU starter Brendan Miller. Miller gave up to singles and then a run later scored on a ground out from Christian Mojica to make it 1-0. Miller got a fly out to end the inning and keep the deficit at just one run for Cornerstone's first at bat.
- Cornerstone was able to get some early baserunners in the bottom of the first on two walks and a single from JC Salinas. IIT starter Ryan Uhlenhake was able to strikeout the next two to keep CU scoreless and hold their 1-0 lead.
- In the top of the third, Indiana Tech added an insurance run as an RBI double from Tyler Stahl scored pinch runner Nolan McKim to make the Warrior lead 2-0.
- The Golden Eagles continued to find baserunners but were unable to score as through three innings of play they left five runners on base.
- Brendan Miller gave up a lead-off triple in the top of the fourth. He was able to get out of it though with three straight ground outs to keep the deficit at just two runs.
- Cornerstone cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning off a new pitcher in Luke Myers. Jack Gagliardi the pinch runner scored on a Lucas Vega ground out to bring the deficit to 2-1.
- Ben Barnes entered to pitch starting in the top of the fifth for CU trailing 2-1. He ran into some significant trouble in the inning giving up four runs highlighted by a two RBI double from Tyler Stahl. A double steal and an RBI single allowed the final two runs to score in the inning for Indiana Tech as they increased the lead to 6-1.
- In the bottom of the sixth, Christian Mojica made a great play to eliminate a lead-off triple from Jordan Wenzel. Mojica caught a line drive off the bat of Matthew Kindley and then dove to third to catch Wenzel off the bag for a double play that ended the inning. Headed into the seventh, CU continued to trail 6-1.
- Lucas Vega led off the bottom of the seventh with a triple and then scored on a two-run home run off the light pole in left from the nine hitter Grant Young. Jake Collins hit a single later in the inning to score Andrew Meny after a fielding error in left field to bring the deficit to just two at 6-4. Spencer Strobel entered to get the final out of the bottom of the seventh inning and keep the Warriors on top 6-4.
- Great defense from Indiana Tech kept Cornerstone at bay in the bottom of the eighth to keep the CU deficit at 6-4.
- In the top of the ninth, reliever Josiah Stairs was able to strand a runner at third with a strikeout to keep the score 6-4 with the top of the CU lineup due up in the bottom of the inning.
- Cornerstone nearly completed a comeback in the bottom of the ninth with the help of an error from the Warriors in left field. JC Salinas hit a single to score Landon Poll and make it 6-5. Jordan Wenzel would fly out for the final out though and CU would fall 6-5.
By the Numbers:
7/6 – Cornerstone outhit Indiana Tech 7-6 in game one behind two hits from
Andrew Meny and
Jake Collins but fell 2-1.
3 – The two teams combined for three triples in the second game with
Jordan Wenzel and
Lucas Vega each recording one for CU.
1/22 –
Grant Young hit his first HR of the year in today's second game for the team's 22
nd of the season.
What's Next?
A busy Easter weekend continues with Cornerstone hosting a rescheduled double-header with Siena Heights on Monday, April 10 starting at 3 p.m.
Baseball Contact: Jesse Campbell
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