Box Score Swarthmore, PA- In their first game since returning from spring break the Highlanders were defeated by Swarthmore College, 9-3.
 
Box Score
 
In a difficult game this afternoon, the Highlanders were brought down by two tough innings in the middle of the contest.  Neither team was able to find any offense until the bottom of the second inning when a solo homerun by Swarthmore opened the scoring.  The Highlanders remained dry on offense and the Garnet were able to tack on three more runs in the bottom of the third inning, stretching their lead to four runs.  The fourth inning followed a similar path as Cairn could not find their bats and Swarthmore again plated three runs.  Trailing 7-0 the Highlanders were finally able to get on the board, scoring two runs in the top of the sixth after a Kenneth Searle double to right center.  The Highlanders were again able to score in the top of the seventh when Joey Nieves-Markee used his speed to manufacture a run solely by himself.  After drawing a leadoff walk, Nieves-Markee's aggressive lead caused the pitcher to make an errant pick off throw allowing him to advance to second.  Another error by Swarthmore put two men on for the Highlanders, and on a wild pitch Nieves-Markee swept home scoring the Highlanders third run of the afternoon.  Despite plating three runs, the Highlanders could not string together enough crucial hits to get fully back into the game, and they eventually were bested by a score of 9-3.  
 
The Highlanders normally high-powered offense struggled all day, as Cairn only managed three hits on the afternoon.  A lack of hitting and four errors never spells success, and these reasons compounded to become the Highlanders undoing this afternoon.
 
Cairn will host CSAC opponent Gwynedd Mercy University for one game Friday afternoon and a doubleheader on Saturday.  Friday's contest begins at 3:00 PM while Saturday's affairs start at 12:00 PM.