CLARKS SUMMIT, PA - The Highlanders traveled to Clarks Summit, PA this weekend to face the Defenders in two games on Saturday, sweeping the home team by scores of 3-1 and 7-0. 
 
GAME ONE: Sophomore pitcher #22 Kacey Wees took the circle for the Highlanders in this first match of the doubleheader and held Clarks Summit to three scoreless innings with five strikeouts. The Highlanders offense was also quiet in the first three innings, save for a double from sophomore Jenna Kenyon. In the fourth inning, sophomore Elizabeth Malarski broke the scoring open when she took advantage of a walk to work her way around the diamond and score, giving the Highlanders a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Emma Holmes followed Malarski's run with a strong double, but was stranded on base to end the top of the fourth. The Defenders countered the Highlanders' advances with a handful of hits to tie the game at a 1-1 score, which was sustained in a scoreless three innings to take the game into extra innings. The Highlanders rallied together in the top of the eighth, with RBI singles from senior Krista Earl and junior Grace Hardesty to push the Highlanders ahead, 3-1. Wees was able to hold the lead for the Highlanders, and ultimately earned a win for her record as she notched nine strikeouts and just one run with a full 8 innings pitched. 
 
GAME TWO: Veteran senior Krista Earl took over for the Highlanders to start the second game, with a strong performance allowing only four hits and racking up four strikeouts over seven scoreless innings. The Highlanders' offense took a few innings to make progress, but came in hot in the third inning with a single from freshman Katie Fauske to set the scene for an RBI double from Kacey Wees. A walk for Elizabeth Malarski allowed pitcher Krista Earl to knock a two RBI single in the same inning, and a Clarks Summit error allowed the Highlanders to snag a 4-0 lead at the end of the third. Both teams were quiet for a few innings, until back-to-back singles from Jenna Kenyon and Kacey Wees allowed an RBI double for sophomore Theresa Beck and an RBI single for Earl. Despite a single from Emma Holmes to advance Earl, both were ultimately stranded as the inning ended with a Highlander lead of 7-0. Cairn notched a few more singles from Kenyon, Wees, and Beck in the seventh inning, but were unable to increase their seven-run lead. Earl closed out a scoreless game for the Defenders for a Highlander win of 7-0. 
 
The Highlanders are now 3-3 in conference play, and will look to get above .500 when they host the Notre Dame of Maryland University Gators in a doubleheader on Friday, 4/16. Due to the ongoing construction of the Stillman Athletic Complex, these home games will be played at a neutral site (the Diamond Nation complex in Flemington, NJ). First pitch is scheduled for 10 AM.