DAVENPORT, Fla. – It was finally opening day for baseball, and they came away with an upset victory over #20 Point Park 13-4 and a 5-3 over Mount Vernon Nazarene, finishing the day 2-0. It is the perfect start to the trip for Cornerstone as they saw clutch hits from multiple players throughout the lineup and a great pitching performance from Lucas Vega. Drew Goodman led the way in game one against Point Park with three extra base hits and a homerun. This was the first time Cornerstone has won the first two games down in Florida since the 2017-18 season. The Golden Eagles will be right back in action tomorrow against Mount Vernon for a rematch at 12 p.m.
 
Game One Highlights – Cornerstone – 13 #20 Point Park - 4

• The first hit of the 2024 season belongs to Andrew Meny as he one hops the right center fence for a two-out double. The Golden Eagles were not able to bring him home in the top of the first. In the bottom of the first, Point Park got on the board first after the first two batters went double-single to start. A couple batters later, Point Park would score on an RBI groundout to take a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
• Drew Goodman started the second inning with a double into the left center gap and would later score on a sac fly from Ben Barnes to make it a 2-1 game in the top of the second.
• Ben Barnes nails the runner at second as Point Park remains in the lead 2-1 after the third inning.
• Drew Goodman continues his great first day, hitting an opposite field homerun to tie the game 2-2 in the top of the fourth. This is the first homerun for the Golden Eagles this year. Brody Nelson has settled in nicely, striking out two-more batters in the fourth.
• Michael Ruiz started the fifth inning with a walk and eventually stealing second to give Cornerstone a runner on second base and no outs. Ethan Lajiness would later come through with an RBI ground-rule double to take a 3-2 lead over Point Park. JC Salinas would put one in play and a nice slide at home from Zach Ivanac put Cornerstone up 4-2 after the top of the fifth.
• Point Park had the bases loaded with two outs, with a 3-2 count they came through with a two RBI base hit to tie the game 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth to start a brand-new game with two-innings to go.
• On the 12^th pitch of the at bat, Michael Ruiz comes through with a two RBI double in left center gap, just past the outstretched glove of the center fielder to give Cornerstone a 6-4 lead in the top of the sixth. Levi Heerema sets down Point Park in order in the bottom of the sixth with a few strikeouts to head into the final inning leading 6-4.
• Ethan Lajiness opened the seventh inning with a ground rule double to right field to kick off the offense. JC Salinas and Andrew Meny were walked to give Cornerstone the bases loaded and nobody out. Matthew Kindley came through with a two RBI double down the right field line to extend the lead 8-4. Drew Goodman would get his third hit of the day with another double, scoring two to make it 10-4 with nobody out in the top of the seventh. Ben Barnes would get into the action with an RBI double, making it now 11-4 as the first six batters have reached safely for the Golden Eagles. Michael Ruiz came through with a triple into the right center gap as Cornerstone has blown this game open, leading 12-4 with still nobody out. Ethan Lajiness brings one more home as Cornerstone put up a seven spot in the top of the seventh, leading 13-4.
• Levi Heerema would close the door on the first game of the season as the Golden Eagles upset #20 Point Park 13-4 thanks to a diving play, double play from Drew Goodman in left field.

 
Game Two Highlights – Cornerstone – 5 Mount Vernon - 3

• Lucas Vega got the start in the second game against Mount Vernon and worked a 1-2-3 inning to get the offense up to bat. JC Salinas walked with one out and would later steal second but was stranded there as the game remained scoreless after one inning.
• Cornerstone gets out of the runners on second and third jam thanks to a nice pick at first from Ben Barnes to keep the game scoreless after the top of the third. The bats have yet to get a hit as the game heads into the fourth scoreless.
• Ben Barnes comes through with the first hit of the game with a double over the right fielder's head. That brought Steve Hoeksema home to give Cornerstone a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth.
• Mount Vernon tied the game 1-1 in the top of the fifth, taking advantage of the Cornerstone error. Lucas Vega would leave the bases loaded, getting out of a potential big inning.
• After a few base hits and a walk to load the bases, Matthew Kindley came through with a walk to give Cornerstone a 2-1 lead with still one out. A two-out walk from Ben Barnes makes it a 3-1 game after the fifth inning.
• Lucas Vega shuts down the Mount Vernon batters in the top of the sixth with a pair of strikeouts as the Golden Eagles are an inning away from a victory.
• After a two-out single and a walk for the Golden Eagles, Andrew Meny came through with a two RBI double down the left field line to extend Cornerstones lead 5-1 in the bottom of the sixth.
• Mount Vernon got to Cornerstone in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs and coming through with a two RBI single to make it a 5-3 game. Cam VanPutten came in to shut the door as the Golden Eagles win 5-3.

 
 
By The Numbers
13 – Cornerstone pitchers struck out 13 opposing batters for the day.
6 – Lucas Vega threw six innings of one-run ball to get the victory over Mount Vernon
4 – Ben Barnes brought home four Golden Eagles on the day.
3 – Ben Barnes and Drew Goodman led the hitting for Cornerstone with three hits apiece. Goodman had three extra base hits.
 
What's Next?
Cornerstone will be right back in action tomorrow as they have a rematch with Mount Vernon Nazarene at 12 PM
 
Baseball Contact: Jonny Strube
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