MELBOURNE, Fla. - Jolie Groeneveld's walk-off double in the bottom of the 8^th inning helped the CU Softball team post a sweep on Day 3 of the Space Coast Games in Florida. The pair of victories (6-5 over Trinity Christian and 7-6 over Saint Thomas) lift the Golden Eagles to 6-4 on the year. Cornerstone will return to action Thursday with two games against Calumet and Saint Francis (Ind.).
 
Game One Highlights – Cornerstone 6, Trinity Christian 5

• After a scoreless first inning, Cornerstone got the scoring started when Abbey Brower bunted home Dylan Holmes who doubled to lead off the inning. 
• CU would tack on three more runs in the frame as a double-steal scored Maddy Chatman which was followed by an RBI single from Mackenzie Nagelhout and then Jolie Groeneveld's triple brought her home to put CU up 4-0.
• The Trolls cut the lead in half with two of their own runs in the bottom of the second
• Cornerstone came right back with an RBI triple from Chatman, scoring Sam Timmer from first base to go up 5-2
• Trinity came back with one more run in their half of the 4^th but again, CU got it right back after an infield RBI-single from Holmes that scored Moriah Sprague who led off the inning with a double
• Sydney Tilma replaced McKenna Gilde in the circle in the 5^th and got out of a jam with no runs coming after TCC loaded the bases with one out
• After Trinity put up two runs in the bottom of the 6th, the Trolls then loaded the bases. A line-drive out and then a huge throw from Nagelhout to get the runner tagging from third ended the threat with CU up 6-5.
• TCC then put the first runner on in the 7^th but Gilde held her there as CU escaped with the 6-5 win

 
Game Two Highlights – Cornerstone 7, Saint Thomas 6 (8)

• A quick turnaround for the Golden Eagles in the nightcap as Saint Thomas posted a single and double in the opening frame for a 1-0 lead
• CU put their first two batters on base to start their half of the inning but three straight strikeouts ended the threat
• STU came back with another run in the second inning to double their lead to 2-0
• Moriah Sprague led off the fourth inning with a rocket to left center but the Bobcat defender made an incredible play for the opening out
• CU finally got a run across in the 5^th inning as an error helped the Golden Eagles cut the margin to 2-1
• After a Jolie Groeneveld single to put a pair of runners on, but a strikeout and foul out ended the rally
• CU threatened again in the 6^th but another outstanding defensive play on a bullet from Morgan Jenkins helped keep STU up by 1
• Alyssa Braam finished strong by striking out four of the last six Bobcat outs in the 5^th and 6^th innings
• Anna Griffioen tripled to lead off the 7^th and then Groeneveld won an 11-pitch at-bat to single to left to tie the game at 2
• STU came back strong in the top of the 8^th as they brought across four runs to take a 6-2 lead
• Facing a big deficit, the Golden Eagles did not panic and they score five runs in the bottom of the 8^th to hand STU their first loss of the season
• Four walks and a single put CU down 6-5 and then Groeneveld doubled home two runs for the 7-6 walk off win

 
What's Next?
Cornerstone will have Wednesday off from action and they will resume play Thursday with a pair of games against Calumet (Ind.) and Saint Francis (Ind.). The first game is scheduled for a 12:15pm first pitch.
 
Softball Contact: Jonny Strube
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