GPAC

[Baseball] Baseball Meets Cornerstone for 1st Time; Sweeps Day One

Doane Baseball met up with Cornerstone (Mich.) for the first time in the two program's history on Friday as they faced off in Bettendorf, Iowa. The Tigers used late inning runs to post a sweep of the Golden Eagles, 12-4 and 5-4. Game OneCornerstone struck first with three runs in the first only to see Doane score 11 of their 12 runs in the final three innings at the plate. The Tigers out-hit the Golden Eagles, 14-5, in the game and CU committed five errors in the game.With Cornerstone leading 3-0, Doane plated a run in the bottom of the 1st. Andy Theiler (JR/Arlington, Neb.) opened the inning with a triple and scored on a  groundout by Lukas White (SO/Castaic, Calif.). The Tigers took the lead in the 4th inning with four runs crossing the plate for a 5-3 lead. Jaryn Nakamoto (SR/Aiea, Hawaii) and Theiler had RBIs in the inning with the final two runs scoring on a two-out error.The Golden Eagles pulled within one with a run in the top of the 5th. Doane answered with two runs in the bottom of the 5th for a 7-4 lead. Joe Osborn (FR/Hickman, Neb.) had a RBI-double with two outs and scored on a RBI-single by Nakamoto. In the 6th, the Tigers plated five runs with two outs in the inning.White drew the start for Doane, throwing 5.0 innings and allowing four runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks with six strikeouts. Thaniel Trumper (FR/Fort Collins, Colo.) came into the game in the 6th inning and threw the final 2.0 innings, striking out four while walking one. White improved to 2-2 while Trumper collected his fifth save.Nakamoto led the team with three hits, driving in two and scoring one run. Osborn added two hits and a RBI while leading the team with three runs scored. Theiler also had a two-hit game, scoring two runs and driving in two. Game TwoDoane picked up their first walk-off victory since 2019 as the Tigers rallied with three runs in the bottom of the 7th inning for the win.The Tigers struck first with two runs in the bottom of the 1st. Doane opened the inning with back-to-back doubles from Theiler and White for the first run of the game. Nate Mensik (FR/Pleasant Dale, Neb.) added a two-out single to plate White.Cornerstone battled back with a run in the 5th and three in the 6th to take the lead, 4-2. The Golden Eagles fought off a Doane rally in the 6th with a double play to end the frame. Daniel Vargas entered the game in the 7th for the Tigers and threw a scoreless frame to set-up the bottom of the 7th rally.Jack Tillman (SO/Omaha, Neb.) opened the 7th with a lead-off walk. White drew a one-out walk to put the tying runs on base. WIth two-outs, the Tigers strung together three consecutive hits to plate their three runs. Aaron Mason (SR/Omaha, Neb.) singled to plate Tucker Catlett (SR/Lincoln, Neb.), who had entered to run for Tillman. Mensik singled to score White and tie the game. Following a pitching change, Osborn sent a 2-1 pitch to the wall for a walk-off single.Jackson Stensgard (SO/Maricopa, Ariz.) started on the hill for Doane, throwing 4.0 scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and three walks while striking out three. Christian McCown (JR/Diller, Neb.) and Evan Mason (FR/Aurora, Colo.) combined to complete the 5th inning while Kellan Voggesser (FR/Fort Collins, Colo.) and Trumper threw in the 6th inning. Vargas received the win (1-0) with his scoreless 7th inning.At the plate, Doane finished with 10 hits, two apiece from Mason, Mensik, and Osborn. Mensik had a team-high two RBIs while White led the team with two runs scored.