GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Softball welcomed #10 Madonna for their 2025 home opener and the Crusaders were too much as they swept the Golden Eagles. Madonna scored early and often in game one using Golden Eagle errors on their way to an 11-3 victory. In game two, pitching shined on both sides but Madonna did a little more on offense on their way to a 3-1 victory. Softball falls to 16-8 (2-2) on the year as they will be right back in action tomorrow afternoon against Aquinas starting at 1 p.m.
 
Game One Recap: #10 Madonna – 11 Cornerstone – 3 F/6

• The first two batters of the game reached base via a walk and would later come home on a single up the middle with two-outs to make it 2-0 in favor of Madonna.
• The Golden Eagle error comes back to bite in the second as that runner would later score on a single with two outs to make it 3-0 Crusaders. The two out rally continued for Madonna as they would bring home three more runs to take a commanding 6-0 lead.
• With two outs in the bottom of the second, Maddy Chatman would clear the bases with a double off the center field fence to make it 6-2.
• Madonna would respond right away in the top of the third with a leadoff homerun to extend their lead 7-2. The Crusaders continued to tack on runs in the third inning as a fielder's choice made it 8-2. They would add one more on a sac fly to make it 9-2 as the game heads to the bottom of the inning.
• Anna Griffioen would open the third inning with a double off the wall and would later come home on a Taylor Zwagerman single with two outs to make it 9-3.
• The Crusaders have scored in all four innings as they would tack on another with a single to make it 10-3 In the fourth.
• After two quick outs, Madonna would use a Golden Eagle error to take 11-3 advantage into the bottom of the sixth.
• The Golden Eagles loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth but were unable to score a run as Madonna run rules Cornerstone 11-3 in game one.

Game Two Recap: #10 Madonna – 3 Cornerstone - 1

• McKenna Gilde worked a scoreless top of the first inning thanks to a double play catch from Morgan Jenkins.
• Madonna would score a run in the top of the second thanks to an infield single to take a 1-0 lead.
• Cornerstone has been held hitless through the first three innings of the game as Madonna leads 1-0.
• Madonna would lead off the fourth with a single. Cornerstone would then get two quick outs, but Madonna would use a clutch two out single to take a 2-0 advantage over the Golden Eagles.
• Anna Griffioen recorded the first hit of the game for the Golden Eagles with a solo homerun to get Cornerstone on the board in the bottom of the fourth.
• The Crusaders would respond right away in the top of the fifth stringing together some hits to extend their lead 3-1 over Cornerstone.
• Cornerstone's bats have been quiet all game as another quick inning by the Crusaders sees the game head to the seventh with Madonna ahead 3-1.
• Madonna completed the sweep of Cornerstone with a 3-1 game two victory.

By the Numbers:
9 – Madonna pitchers struck out nine Golden Eagle batters between both games
4 – Cornerstone committed four errors on the day
1 – Anna Griffioen hit her first homerun of the season
 
What's Next?
Softball will have their home opener on Friday, March 28 as they take on #10 Madonna for a doubleheader starting at 3:30 p.m.
 
Softball Contact: Jonny Strube | jon.strube@cornerstone.edu
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