Aston, PA – The Cairn baseball team dropped the final game of a three-game series against the Neumann Knights on Sunday afternoon by a 4-1 final. After dropping two games yesterday afternoon, the Highlanders were looking to rebound in the final game of the series.
 
Cairn struck first with a run in the top of the first thanks to a sacrifice fly from Aaron Takacs to score Jacob Allen. Neumann quickly responded with a single run in the bottom of the first and then scored three runs across the fourth and fifth en route to the 4-1 victory.
 
The Highlanders put runners on base in the seventh and eighth, but were unable to score. In the seventh Daniel Morales and Emilio Alvarez knocked back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners, but Andrew Philips lined into a double play to end the inning and the threat.
 
In the eight, Cairn once again had a mini-rally cooking when Nathan Wilson earned his way on with an infield single. Wilson then stole second and tried to score on a single by Aaron Takacs, but the freshman was cut down at the plate to end the inning.
 
Cairn was unable to put on a runner in the ninth and fell by the 4-1 margin.
 
Earlier in the game, Cairn wasted no time getting on the board. Allen led off the game with a single to right field and Brendan Keller followed with an infield single to put runners on first and second. After a sacrifice bunt, Aaron Takacs delivered the RBI with a fly ball to center, bringing home Allen.
 
As mentioned, the Knights responded with an RBI single off the bat of Cody MacNair in the bottom of the frame.
 
In the third, the Highlanders threated with back-to-back singles from Allen and Keller to lead off the inning, but a line drive double play halted the chance.
 
Neumann scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth to break the 1-1 deadlock. With runners on the corners and no outs, the Knights put Chuck Trentler in motion from first. Trentler swiped second, but the throw went into center field allowing Cody MacNair to score from third after he doubled to lead off the inning.
 
The Highlanders stranded a runner in scoring position in the fifth, before the Knights added two insurance runs in the bottom of the inning. After getting the first two outs in the bottom of the fifth on two pitches, Kameron Bradshaw got into some trouble with a double a double down the left field line and a hit-by-pitch putting two on.
 
After both runners moved up on a wild pitch, MacNair was intentionally walked to load the bases. The next batter was hit by a pitch and the following hitter walked to bring home two runs before a groundout to short stop ended the inning.
 
After Neumann pushed the two runs across with the two-out rally in the fifth, the two sides' pitching staffs hung zeros on the board for the final four frames.
 
On the mound Kameron Bradshaw takes the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits, three walks, and two hit batsmen. For Neumann, Grant Wallace earns his third win of the season, going seven innings and allowing one earned run on six hits.
 
Bobby Sefick earned his third save pitching two scoreless innings while allowing two hits.
 
In relief, Matt Trotman pitched a scoreless sixth for Cairn and Albert Tayler tossed a perfect seventh and eighth innings to keep the Highlanders in the game.
 
At the dish Jacob Allen and Brendan Keller each went 2-4 in the contest to lead the Cairn offense.
 
The Highlanders fall to 11-9 with the loss and 3-6 in the CSAC. Cairn will next take the field on Tuesday when they host St. Joseph's College – Brooklyn for a doubleheader. Game One is slated to begin at 1:00p.m.