PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. – The Cairn University softball team swept their road non-conference doubleheader at the University of Valley Forge on Wednesday evening, claiming game one by a score of 10-6, before hanging on to top the Patriots, 8-7, in the nightcap.
Cairn (3-7) struck first in game one by plating three runs in the top of the first inning, capped off by an RBI-double by sophomore
Abbi Heacock (Media, PA / Delco Christian). The Highlanders poured on more offense in the fourth frame to take a 7-0 lead. Valley Forge (3-6) made a formidable comeback, plating six runs over the next two innings, but Cairn added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning to secure the victory.
Senior
Kacey Wees (Irwin, PA / Hempfield) and freshman
Jolene Zefferi (Bristol, PA / Bristol) led the Highlander bats in game one, each contributing a game-high three hits. Junior
Adriana Shannon (Marlton, NJ / Cherokee), sophomore
Julia Bruestle (Abington, PA / Abington) and freshman
Sydney Wright (Souderton, PA / Souderton) each added multi-hit efforts for Cairn. Wees got the win in the circle, going seven strong, allowing five hits, two runs (one earned) and striking out three.
Cairn once again delivered the first blow in game two after Wees singled up the middle to plate two runners to give the Highlanders a 2-0 lead. Valley Forge answered accordingly, taking a 5-2 lead at the end of the fourth inning. The Highlanders scored the next six runs of the contest and led 8-5 heading into the bottom half of the seventh. The Patriots did not give in, scoring two runs to cut the Highlander lead to just one (8-7). Valley Forge put the potential game-tying run on third base, and the potential game-winning run on second base down to their last out. However, a spectacular snag on a screaming line drive by Wright at first base shut the door on the Patriots and sealed the win for Cairn.
Shannon and freshman
Myiah Petroro (Long Island, NY / Liberty Online) led the offensive output in game two, each tallying a team-high three hits. Zefferi, Wees and senior
Theresa Beck (Lansdale, PA / Dock Mennonite Academy) each recorded multiple hits, while Wees drove in a team-high three runs. Wees got her second-straight win in the circle, hurling three innings in relief, scattering three hits, two runs and striking out a pair.
The Highlanders will be back in action on Tuesday, March 28 when they travel to Newtown for a single, seven-inning game in Newtown against Bucks County Community College at 3 p.m.
