Fort Pierce, FL – The Highlanders looked to end their four game skid in an afternoon matchup with the University of Northwestern (MN).  Cairn would fall in extra inning thriller to the Eagles by the score of 5-4 in 10 innings. 

What once started as a pitcher's duel, turned into offensive slugfest in the 10^th innings as five runs would be scored in the extra frame.  Eric Stinglen would get the start for the Cairn and the senior went 5 innings, scattering 5 hits, striking out 8 batters, and only giving up 2 runs.  Emilio Alvarez would then take over on the mound and throw 4.1 innings, of 2 hit baseball, and struck out 7 batters.  Nate Wilson would relieve Alvarez and threw 1 pitch, when the Eagles would score on a perfectly placed bunted ball.

For Northwestern, starter Phillip Wall was absolutely brilliant through 9 innings.  The sophomore from Alaska struck out 9 Highlanders, while giving up 6 hits and 2 runs.  The Eagles then brought in Andrew Simonson who faced 2 Highlanders, before being replaced by third baseman Bradley Spencer.  Spencer only gave up 1 hit, but it was a 2 RBI single to Josh Melchior in the 10^th to give the Highlanders a 4-2 lead.

Cairn used back-to-back-to back singles in the first to jump out to an early 1-0 lead.  Marks' single drove in Morales for the game's first run.  Northwestern was able to answer with a run of their in the 1^st to the tie game.  The Eagles would grab their first lead of the game in the bottom of the 5^th inning after a lead-off double to left center field, the runner would come around to score on a 2 out single to left.  The lead would be short lived.  In the top of the 6^th, Brian Amantia walked and then was chased home by Nate Wilson's triple. 
In the 10^th, Daniel Morales singled, Brian Amantia walked, and then Brett Marks was hit by a pitch to load bases. With 2 outs in the inning and the bases still loaded, freshman Josh Melchior would step to the plate and deliver a 2 RBI single to left field, driving in Brian Amantia and Brett Marks. 

With a 2 run lead in the 10^th, Emilio Alvarez would go back out to start his 5^th inning.  Alvarez was able to retire the first batter on strikes.  The next batter earned a full count walk, before the Eagles would hit a double to left field scoring 1 run.  Northwestern would score the tying run on a wild pitch.  That would be the end of the day for Alvarez, as Nate Wilson would take the bump to try to extend the game to 11.  Wilson threw one pitch as the Eagles laid down a perfectly executed bunt to score the winning run from third.

Cairn will be back in action in Florida on Friday as they will take on Western Connecticut state at 12:30.