Langhorne, PA - The Cairn baseball team earned a pair of one-run victories over the Gwynedd Mercy Griffins on Saturday afternoon by scores of 4-3 and 7-6 on a beautiful spring afternoon in early April.
 
In Game One, the Highlanders scored two runs in the third and then added a single run in both the fourth and fifth innings en route to the victory. In the second game, the Highlanders jumped all over the Griffins with six runs in the first two frames. Cairn added a seventh run in the bottom of the sixth with a double by Jacob Allen that proved to be the game winning RBI.
 
Game One - Cairn defeats Gwynedd Mercy 4-3
In Game One the Griffins quickly jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a walk and two consecutive singles to plate the game's first run just 12 pitches into the contest. Cairn's starter, Sam Dralle, shut down the rally with two strikeouts sandwiched around a fielder's choice to strand two runners and limit the damage to just a single run.
 
After a quick bottom of the first, Dralle again worked out of danger in the second. The sophomore stranded runners on first and second with a comebacker that he flipped to first for the final out of the frame.
 
In the second, the Highlanders loaded the bases with just one out thanks to a walk, a single, and a hit-by-pitch. However a one-two-three double-play ended the threat and the game moved to the third with the Griffins leading 1-0.
 
In the bottom of the third the Highlanders got on the board. Andrew Philips led off the frame by reaching on the error before Jacob Allen doubled down the right field line to tie the game at 1-1. Later in the frame with Allen on third, Aaron Takacs singled through the left side with two outs to break the tie and give Cairn the 2-1 lead.
 
In the fourth, the Highlanders grabbed another run to extend their lead. Daniel Morales doubled to left center to lead off the inning and Emilio Alvarez brought him home with a single through the right side. Later in the stanza with runners on second and third it looked like the Highlanders were going to plate another run (or two) when Brendan Keller struck a line-drive down the left field line. The fading liner was tracked down by the Griffins and the Cairn lead remained 3-1 heading to the fifth.
 
In the fifth, the Griffins jumped on the first two offerings from Dralle for a double and a single to put runners on the corners just two pitches into the inning. The Griffins cashed those baserunners in for runs later in the frame with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3.
 
The Highlanders quickly responded in the bottom of the fifth. Nathan Wilson walked to lead off the frame and Takacs single to put runners on the corners for Alejandro Fernandez. Fernandez grounded into a double play, but Wilson did score from third to break the tie and give Cairn the 4-3 lead.
 
With his pitch count nearing the century mark, Sam Dralle was removed for Matt Trotman on the mound. Trotman worked around a leadoff single to pitch a clean inning and turned the ball over to Emilio Alvarez for the seventh.
 
 Alvarez got a three-up, three-down seventh to earn his second save of the season and give Cairn the 4-3 victory.
 
On the mound, Sam Dralle tossed five solid innings allowing three runs (all earned) and six hits to pick up his third win of the season to improve to 3-2. Matt Trotman and Emilio Alvarez each threw scoreless innings in relief to close out the victory. Alvarez earned the save for his work in the seventh.
 
At the dish, Aaron Takacs and Daniel Morales each collected two hits with Jacob Allen, Takacs, and Alvarez picking up RBI in the win.
 
Game Two - Cairn defeats Gwynedd Mercy 7-6
In Game Two, the Highlanders jumped all over the Griffins for six runs in the first two innings to build a comfortable cushion. The lead remained 6-0 until the Griffins connected for three runs in the fourth. Gwynedd Mercy scored two more in the top of the sixth to make it a one-run game, but in the bottom of the inning Cairn added a huge insurance run when Andrew Philips and Jacob Allen smacked back-to-back doubles.
 
Leading 7-5 heading to the seventh, the Griffins loaded the bases with one away and Emilio Alvarez was summoned to pitch for Cairn. Alvarez induced a sacrifice fly to center and a groundout to first to allow one run, but closed the door and picked up his second save of the day with the Highlanders earning a 7-6 victory.
 
The Highlanders smacked six hits in the bottom of the first to score four runs. Nathan Wilson, Aaron Takacs, and Daniel Morales all collected RBI in the inning with Morales scoring the last run on an error by the pitcher on a pick-off attempt.
 
In the second, the Highlanders put together a two-out rally that added two more runs to their lead. With no on one and two away, Brendan Keller and Wilson singled to put runners on first and second. An Takacs walk loaded the bases for Alejandro Fernandez, who connected for a two-out, two-strike single up the middle to plate Keller and Wilson to make it a 6-0 game.
 
As mentioned the Griffins came back with three runs in the fourth and two more in the sixth to make it a 6-5 game.
 
Cairn had a chance to add to their lead in the fourth, but left two runners on and had another caught stealing. The Highlanders led 6-5 heading to the bottom of the sixth, but Andrew Philips started off the frame by smoking a double right back up the middle. The ball squirted past the center fielder allowing Philips to end up on second base. Just two pitches later, Jacob Allen went the other way with a high fly ball that dropped just inches inside the chalk down the right field line. Philips raced home as Allen was cut down trying to stretch a double into a triple.
 
The run in the sixth gave Cairn a two-run advantage heading to what turned out to be a thrilling seventh.
 
The Highlanders called for Albert Taylor out of the bullpen to begin the seventh. Taylor got ahead of his first batter 0-2, but left a pitch over the plate that was ripped to left center for a double. The next batter fell into an 0-2 hole as well, but this time Taylor got the best of the match-up with a groundball to third.
 
A walk put runners on first and second, before a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with one out. Emilio Alvarez, who closed out the first game, was brought in to slam the door again in the second game.
 
The first batter Alvarez faced flew out to center field, allowing the runner from third to tag and score. On the play the throw from center field got away between third and home. The runner from second hesitated before trying to advance to third. The throw from Fernandez to Wilson to try and nab the runner trying to advance was just late and the game continued.
 
With runners on second and third, Ryan Keen got ahead of Alvarez 3-1, but hit a high chopper to first base that Daniel Morales took to the bag himself to seal the doubleheader sweep for the Highlanders with a 7-6 victory in Game Two.
 
Daniel Morales earned the victory after allowing five runs (all earned) on seven hits and four walks while striking out five over six innings. Once again, Alvarez earned the save, his second of the day and third of the season.
 
At the dish, Allen, Wilson, and Fernandez each collected two hits with Fernandez driving home two runs to lead the Highlanders.
 
The Highlanders and Griffins will complete their three-game series on Monday afternoon with a game slated to be played at Gwynedd Mercy at 3:00 p.m. The Highlanders will be looking for their first three-game sweep of a CSAC foe in program history.