Immaculata, PA – The Highlanders held a 6-5 lead over the CSAC leading, Immaculata Mighty Macs late into the game on Wednesday afternoon. With the Mighty Macs batting in the bottom of the eighth inning with two outs and a runner on second Howie Kalamets smacked a two-run homer of the center field fence to give Immaculata a 7-6 lead. A perfect ninth inning from Immaculata closer, Kyle Bacher gave Cairn the heartbreaking loss.
 
Cairn held the upper hand for a majority of the contest, but it was Kalamets' blast that held the last word in the game and proved to be the difference.
 
The Highlanders quickly jumped out to a three-run lead with a trio of runs in the top of the first. Aaron Takacs continued his stellar week with an RBI triple to center that chased Jacob Allen home. Two batters later, Daniel Morales helped his own cause with a single to bring in Takacs and Keith LeNoue singled later in the inning to score Joshua Field.
 
The Mighty Macs responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame on an infield single and a single down the left field line. The damage could have been worse, but Daniel Morales left the bases juiced with a strikeout and a ground out to end the frame with Cairn holding a 3-2 lead.
 
Two innings later, the Mighty Macs tied the game by scoring an unearned run on a single from Dom Ficca in the bottom of the third.
 
After a quiet fourth the Highlanders took the lead back with a two-out rally in the fifth. After two quick outs, LeNoue skied a pop-up to the first baseman that was muffed an allowed him to reach. Two singles later, LeNoue came around to score and give Cairn the 4-3 advantage.
 
The Highlanders pushed their lead to two with a run in the top of the seventh. It was LeNoue involved in the rally. With one away he walked and then moved to second on a walk to Brendan Keller. Andrew Philips brought home LeNoue with a single up the middle for his second RBI of the day.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the Mighty Macs took advantage of two Cairn errors to plate a pair of runs and tie the game at 5-5.
 
 The Highlanders quickly punched back with a run in the top of the eighth to regain their lead. Aaron Takacs delivered on of his four hits on the afternoon up the middle to start the rally with one out.
After a pop up and a walk, the Highlanders had two on and two out for Alejandro Fernandez, who delivered his lone hit of the day, a single through the left side that plated Takacs for the 6-5 lead.
 
The bottom of the eighth began with a slow roller between third and short that no one had a play on, allowing the leadoff hitter to reach. A sacrifice bunt and a fly out put a runner on second with two outs for Howie Kalamets. Kalamets delivered on the opportunity and smashed a two-run homer to straight-away center for his second big fly in his last two games.
 
Kyle Bacher nailed down a perfect ninth inning thanks to a pair of strong defensive plays behind him for his seventh save of the season. The victory improves Immaculata to 14-4 overall and 9-1 in the CSAC. Cairn falls to 13-10 overall and 3-7 in the conference.
 
Offensively the Highlanders were led by Aaron Takacs who followed up a 5-8 day yesterday with a 4-5 effort this afternoon that included an RBI triple and two runs scored. Keith LeNoue (2-4), Brendan Keller (2-3), and Andrew Philips (2-5) each collected multi-hit games as well.
 
On the mound, it was Johnny Wholestaff today for the Highlanders as normal starters Daniel Morales and Sam Dralle pitched three innings a piece. Morales got the nod in the game allowing three runs (two earned) over his three innings on six hits. Dralle allowed just two hits and no runs over his three frames on the bump.
 
In relief, Matt Trotman and Albert Taylor each pitched an inning allowing two runs each. Taylor was saddled with the loss, allowing two runs (both earned) on two hits in his inning of work. He moves to 1-2 on the season.
 
Cairn and Immaculata will finish their three-game series with a doubleheader in Langhorne on Monday, Apr. 17 beginning at 12:00 p.m.