ASTON, PA- On a brisk February afternoon, the Highlanders opened up their season against the Mavericks of Medaille College. Forced to hit the road due to a wet field, the Highlanders adjusted to the adverse circumstances and won their first game of the season thanks to a workmanlike seven innings from Emilio Alvarez.
 
Freshman Brian Amantia made his mark early with a sharp single to right field and two stolen bases later in the inning to put the pressure on Medaille ace Peter Grunzweig. Unfortunately, Highlanders pitcher and cleanup hitter Emilio Alvarez was unable to knock Amantia home; fortunately, Alvarez brought his best stuff on the mound, mowing through the Mavericks lineup the next couple innings. Amantia threatened to score again in the third with a towering triple to left center field, but the outfielder was again stranded 90 feet from home. Medaille got on the board first in the top of the 4^th inning after a leadoff triple and sac fly, but the Highlanders quickly bounced back in the bottom half of the fourth. Alvarez helped his own cause with a single to lead off the inning and alert baserunning to take second on a passed ball. First basemen Daniel Morales walked, and third basemen Alejandro Fernandez knocked in the Highlanders first run of the season with his second single of the day. The Highlanders other young outfielder, Adam Juarez, knocked in his first run of the season with a sac fly, and Jacob Allen finished the rally with a single over the head of Medaille's second basemen. The Mavericks notched another run in the 5^th, but Alvarez buckled down in the final two frames with two straight 1-2-3 innings to finish his complete game and the Highlanders first win of the season.
 
The second game began eerily similar to the first as the Mavericks tallied the first run of the game in the 2^nd inning, and the Highlanders bounced back in a major way in the bottom half. Catcher Brett Marks sparked the action with a single and two stolen bases to put himself on third with only one out, Alejandro Fernandez notched another RBI with his single to center field, and Andrew Philips singled Fernandez in one batter later. Philips promptly swiped third base and was singled in by the Highlanders stalwart second basemen Jacob Allen to bump the Highlanders to a 3-1 lead. Cairn's bats cooled off over the next couple frames, but the Highlanders held the lead until the 5^th inning. The Mavericks finally broke out, chasing the Highlanders hard-throwing starter Sam Dralle, and touching up reliever Matt Trotman to take a 6-3 lead. The Highlanders struggled to make up the three-run deficit as outside of two Andrew Philips walks and a single from Dan Bierc, the Highlanders were unable to put anyone else on base, eventually dropping the afternoon's second game 3-6.
 
The Highlanders will seek two more wins tomorrow afternoon when they host Valley Forge University in another out-of-conference doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 1:00 PM.