Langhorne, PA - The Cairn baseball team opened CSAC play with an offensive explosion on Friday afternoon with a 16-6 victory over the Marywood Pacers. The Highlanders hammered two home runs with Aaron Takacs going yard in the bottom of the third to break a 2-2 tie and Nathan Wilson smashing a grand slam to left field to break the game open in the sixth.
 
Cairn finished with 18 hits in the contest with five players collecting multi-hit games including a 4-6 effort from the Highlanders' leadoff hitter Jacob Allen.
 
Cairn scored early and often in the Friday's contest to pull away from the Pacers before cruising to the lopsided victory. The Highlanders scored at least one run in each of the first six innings, including crooked numbers in the third and the fifth and a seven spot in the sixth.
 
Cairn got on the board right away in the first with a bunt single from Brendan Keller followed by a steal of second. Wilson singled home Keller to put Cairn on the board. In the second the Highlanders added a second run to double their lead. With two outs, Andrew Philips reached on an error and Allen smoked a triple to right-center to plate the run.
 
The Pacers tied the game up with two runs in the top of the third, but the Highlanders swiftly responded with a three run third, highlighted by Takacs' home run. Following Takacs' home run was a hit parade from the next four batters to plate two more runs.
 
Cairn added a run in the fourth with a bases loaded walk to Daniel Morales before scoring three more runs in the fifth. Allen, Keller, and Wilson each chased home a run in the fifth with singles to give Cairn a 9-4 lead.
 
In the top of the sixth, Marywood scored a run with a groundout to pull within four at 9-5.
 
Once again the Highlanders responded. This time it with a seven run frame that took the lead from four up to 11 at 16-5. With the bags full, Andrew Philips walked to bring home a run and Allen followed with a two-run single. A bunt single from Keller loaded the bases again before Wilson quickly brought everyone home with a grand slam to left field.
 
The Pacers score one run in the top of the ninth, but the Highlanders held on for the 16-6 victory.
 
Not to be forgotten was solid pitching performances from the Highlanders' staff. Kameron Bradshaw started for Cairn and went five innings allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits, three walks, and four hit batsmen. Bradshaw worked out of jams in the early going to keep the game close and allow the Cairn bats to get the job done.
 
In relief, John Burlaga and Jackson Godfrey each allowed one run in two innings of work each.
 
At the dish, the Highlanders knocked 19 hits on the afternoon with six players registering at least two hits. Jacob Allen drove home four runs with a 4-6 day at the plate including a triple. Nathan Wilson and Brendan Keller each collected three hits apiece. Wilson hammered the grand slam while Keller collected all three of his hits on bunts. In the nine-hole, Andrew Philips went 1-2 but walked three times and scored four runs on the day.
 
The Highlanders and Pacers will square off tomorrow afternoon in a doubleheader in Langhorne starting at 1:30 p.m. The games were initially scheduled to be played in Scranton, but due to weather they will be played at Cairn with Marywood as the home team.