BALTIMORE, Md. – The Cairn University softball team split their Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) doubleheader on the road at Notre Dame of Maryland University on Thursday, claiming game one by a score of 2-1, before dropping a 3-2 nail biter in game two.
 
Cairn (6-18, 3-7 CSAC) engaged in a defensive battle early with Notre Dame (7-11, 4-6 CSAC), as neither team posted a run through the first three innings of the contest. The Highlanders struck first in the fourth frame after junior Emma Holmes (Newtown, PA / Council Rock North) delivered an RBI-single to give Cairn a 1-0 lead. Cairn got a much needed insurance run in the top half of the seventh inning off a sacrifice fly by freshman Abbi Heacock (Media, PA / Delco Christian) increased the lead to 2-0. The Gators cut the lead in half with a run in the bottom of the seventh and had a runner in scoring position trailing by just one, but the Highlanders slammed the door, recording their third conference victory of the season. Highlander junior Kacey Wees (Irwin, PA / Hempfield) dazzled in the circle, getting the win after tossing a complete game, giving up just one run and walking just two batters.
 
In game two, the bats woke up in the first inning as both teams plated a pair of runs and were tied at two a-piece. The Highlanders notched their two first-inning runs off an RBI-double by junior Theresa Beck (Lansdale, PA / Dock Mennonite Academy). Notre Dame re-took the lead in the bottom half of the second inning to give them a 3-2 lead. Over the final five innings of the contest, the Highlanders put runners in scoring position one time in the sixth inning, but quality pitching from the Gators kept the them off the scoreboard. Wees was fantastic again in game two, tossing six innings, scattering eight hits and three runs (two earned). Beck led the way offensively in game two with her first-inning RBI-double.
 
The Highlanders will be back on the field on Saturday, April 23 when they return home to face conference adversary Wilson College for a doubleheader inside the Stillman Complex starting at 1 p.m.