PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. – The Cairn University softball team concluded the 2022 season on a high note, sweeping Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) foe University of Valley Forge on Saturday, winning 11-1 in game one before earning a hard-fought, 7-6 victory in game two.
 
In game one, Valley Forge (5-21, 1-15 CSAC) claimed the early advantage via a run in the top of the first inning, before Cairn (8-22, 5-11 CSAC) responded decisively in the second frame with six runs to take a 6-1 lead. The Highlanders piled on to their lead just one inning later, scoring five more runs to take firm control of the contest before the mercy rule was induced in the fifth inning. Cairn was led in game one by junior Jenna Kenyon (Clarkesville, MD / River Hill) with a game-high three hits and three RBIs. Junior Theresa Beck (Lansdale, PA / Dock Mennonite Academy) and freshman Julia Bruestle (Abington, PA / Abington) each tallied a pair of base knocks, while Bruestle crossed home twice. Junior Kacey Wees (Irwin, PA / Hempfield) got the win after tossing a complete game, scattering three hits, one run and striking out four.
 
In game two, the Highlanders struck first with a run courtesy of an RBI-single by freshman Abbi Heacock (Media, PA / Delco Christian) to take a 1-0 lead, but the Patriots regained momentum with four runs in the second inning to take a 4-1 mark into the third. In that third inning, the Highlanders reclaimed the lad with a four-spot in take a 5-4 advantage. Cairn added one more run in the fourth inning, before Valley Forge scored a pair in the sixth inning to knot the game up at six a-piece. In the top of the seventh, the Highlanders put two runners in scoring position with two outs to bring freshman Kathryn Reid (Boonville, NY / South Lewis) to the plate. Reid delivered a base hit up the middle to score Heacock to give Cairn a 7-6 lead heading into the bottom half. Wees slammed the door on the Patriots, setting the Patriots down in order to complete the sweep for the Highlanders. Kenyon posted another good showing at the plate, matching Wees with a game-high three hits, while Heacock added two hits and a game-high three RBIs. Wees notched her fifth win of the season in the circle, hurling the last two innings in relief, giving up just one hits and no runs.
 
The Highlanders conclude the season with an overall record of 8-22 and finished 5-11 in CSAC competition, including two doubleheader sweeps at home in the second half of the