Baseball Game Preview: Cornerstone Christian Academy Crusaders vs. Hickory Christian Academy Knights

The Cornerstone Christian Academy Crusaders will challenge the Hickory Christian Academy Knights at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Cornerstone Christian Academy has given up an average of 11.5 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

Cornerstone Christian Academy lost 13-3 to Alexander Christian Academy on Friday. Cornerstone Christian Academy has now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

Berek Austin

Stolen Base

03/28/25 vs Alexander Christian Academy	1
03/24/25 vs Asheboro Hybrid Academy	2
03/21/25 vs Varsity Opponent	2

Berek Austin made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and got on base in three of his four plate appearances with one stolen base and one RBI. He is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged at least one in each of the last three games he's played.

Meanwhile, Hickory Christian Academy entered their tilt with Statesville Christian on Tuesday with three consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with four. They never let the Lions get on the board and left with a 13-0 win. That 13 run margin sets a new team best for the Knights this season.

Jared Zientek made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out six over four innings pitched. Zientek was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 1-for-2.

Zientek wasn't the only one making solid contact as five players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Davis Morgan, who went 2-for-4 with four RBI, one triple, and one run. Those four RBI gave Morgan a new career-high. Another was Lleyton Hines, who scored a run while going 1-for-2.

Hickory Christian Academy always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .516. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Statesville Christian only posted an OBP of .125.

Hickory Christian Academy pushed their record up to 7-2 with the victory, which was their third straight at home. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.3 runs on average over those games. As for Cornerstone Christian Academy, their loss dropped their record down to 1-3.