FAIRLESS HILLS, PA - The Highlanders took the field at their temporary home location of Conwell Egan High School to face the Saint Elizabeth University Eagles in a doubleheader matchup this past Thursday.
GAME ONE: Senior pitcher #12
Krista Earl stepped into the circle to start off the Highlanders' battle against Eagles, giving up just one run in the first three innings and striking out four. She also contributed to the early Highlander lead in the second inning with an infield single, later scoring thanks to a triple to left field by sophomore
Jenna Kenyon. After a few errors in a messy fourth inning, the Highlanders clung to a one-run lead as their bats fell silent until the fifth inning, when back-to-back-to-back singles from sophomore
Theresa Beck, junior
Olivia Nieto, and sophomore
Elizabeth Malarski loaded the bases with two outs. The Highlanders then surged ahead with a 6-2 lead, thanks to a three-RBI double from
Krista Earl smashed deep into left field. The Eagles attempted to counter with a few scattered hits, but ultimately Earl prevented any additional runs and pitched a complete game for a Highlander win, 6-2.
GAME TWO:
Elizabeth Malarski took the circle for the Highlanders in their second match of the day. Cairn took an early lead once again, when a single from Malarski scored sophomore
Kacey Wees for a 1-0 lead. Malarski struggled in the second inning, allowing two runs on three hits, and the Highlander offense was unable to produce the runs to counter. In the middle of the fourth with the Eagles up 6-1, Wees came in to relieve Malarski. Despite a rocky start that allowed two additional runs for Saint Elizabeth, Wees quickly settled and held the Eagles for three scoreless innings. The Highlanders' offense was quiet until the seventh inning, when junior
Hailey Wruck singled to start a rally, followed by a double from
Jenna Kenyon and a single from Wees. After taking advantage of a few Eagles' errors, the Highlanders were able to scrape together a few more runs, topped off by an RBI single by Malarski to close the gap to a 8-4 Eagles' lead. Unfortunately, the Highlanders couldn't complete the comeback, and the game ended with a final of 8-4 in Saint Elizabeth's favor.
Malarski led the way for the Highlanders at the plate, going 4-6 on the day with 2 RBIs. Kenyon also had a clutch hitting performance, going 3-7 with 3 RBIs, a double, and a triple.
The Highlanders hit the road this weekend to face the Clarks Summit Defenders in a doubleheader on Saturday.
