Winter Haven, FL - The Cairn baseball team closed out their spring trip to Florida with a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat victory on Friday morning by a 6-3 final over the Knox Prairie Fire. Daniel Morales went seven strong innings in his first appearance of the season, scattering six hits and allowing one run (earned) while striking out seven.

As strong as his start was, Morales had to settle for a no decision as the Highlanders gave up a two-run home run in the eighth after he exited the game.

The home run for Knox put the Prairie Fire up 3-2, but the Highlanders responded with a two-out rally in the ninth. With two away, Jacob Allen stood on first base with Nathan Wilson at the plate. Allen proceeded to swipe second and third to put the tying run on third. The stolen bases turned out to be unnecessary as the next two batters walked to loaded the bases.

After a four-pitch walk to Aaron Takacs, Knox changed pitchers, but with a new face on the bump and Daniel Morales at the dish the Prairie Fire saw the same result. Morales did not take the bat off his shoulder and walked on six pitches to tie the game at 3-3.

Josh Field then hit a high chopper over the pitchers mound and toward second base, but there was no play to be made and the Highlanders took a 4-3 lead with the infield single. On the very next pitch, Emilio Alvarez ripped a single up the middle to chase home two runs and push the Cairn lead to 6-3.

Alvarez then transitioned to the mound where he pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his first career save.

On the morning, Cairn connected for 15 hits including three from leadoff hitter Jacob Allen and two hits a piece from five Highlanders in the middle of the order.

Allen started the game with a single over the second baseman's head, but was doubled off of first later in the inning after Brendan Keller lined an 0-2 pitch to the second baseman. With two away and no one on, Nathan Wilson started a two-out rally with an infield single. Aaron Takacs followed with a walk and Daniel Morales singled to left field to put the Highlanders up 1-0.

The score remained 1-0 into the bottom of the fifth despite the Highlanders best attempts to extend their lead. Cairn stranded two runners in both the third and fourth and another in the fifth.

In the bottom half of the fifth, Knox put together a two-out rally of their own. Kam Wells singled to left center and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Wells came around to score on a Brendan Powers single down the right field line. Morales escaped further damage with a strikeout to end the frame.

After a scoreless sixth, the Highlanders put a run on the board in the seventh with an RBI triple by Nathan Wilson. The three-bagger by Wilson brought home Allen who had singled earlier in the frame and gave Cairn a 2-1.

Cairn's 2-1 lead set the stage for the eighth inning home run for Knox that turned the tide and gave the momentum to the Prairie Fire.

As mentioned, Morales was given the no decision in the contest despite pitching a quality seven frames for the Highlanders allowing just seven baserunners and striking out seven in his first start of the season.

The victory moves the Highlanders to 7-3 on the season and wraps up their Spring Break Trip at a 3-3 record. Cairn finished their trip with a plus-nine run differential and suffered their three losses by a combined four runs.

The Highlanders are scheduled to be back in action on Mar. 21 when they travel to Lancaster Bible College to take on the Chargers at 3:00 p.m.