LANGHORNE, Pa. – The Cairn University baseball team lost, 17-10, in extra innings in their Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) opener at home against Wilson College inside the Stillman Complex on Thursday evening.
 
Cairn (4-10, 0-1 CSAC) had the bats rolling early after putting up a four-spot in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run homer by freshman Zach Bauers (Cooper City, FL / Cooper City). Cairn held a 9-4 lead over Wilson (11-4, 1-0 CSAC) after four innings, and chased Phoenix ace and reigning CSAC Rookie of the Year Chris Baumann out of the contest after just 3.1 innings. Wilson got a run back in the sixth inning, and knotted the bout up at nine-all after a four-run top of the seventh. Senior Jake Arnoldy (West Grove, PA / Wilmington Christian) put the Highlanders back on top, 10-9 after a sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the seventh, but Wilson answered with a run in the eighth.
 
After neither team was able to break through in the ninth inning, the game went to extra innings. The Phoenix blew the game open in the top of the tenth, capitalizing on three Highlander errors in the inning to put up seven runs, and promptly sat the Highlanders down in the bottom half to seal the victory.
 
Sophomore Tyler Warr (Langhorne, PA / Neshaminy) led the Highlander bats with a team-high three hits. Bauers, senior Sam Spadea (Yardley, PA / Pennsbury) and sophomore Dylan Jackson (Levittown, PA / Chestnut Hill College) each contributed multi-hit efforts. Bauers and Spadea each scored a team-high three runs, while Jackson tallied a team-high three RBIs. Sophomore Joe Battaglia (Brielle, NJ / Brentwood Academy) got the start for Cairn, scattering six hits, four runs and a pair of k's over 3.1 innings in a no-decision effort. Classmate Ronaldhino Alcin (Miami, FL / North Miami Beach) hurled 3.2 innings in relief, giving up six hits, two earned runs, and striking out a pair. Junior Ethan Fineman (Langhorne, PA / Neshaminy) contributed two thirds of an inning, allowing zero hits and zero runs.
 
The Highlanders will be back on the field on Sunday, March 26 when they travel to Chambersburg to complete their three-game series with the Phoenix via a road doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.