HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – The Cairn University baseball team dropped their non-conference tilt on the road against Centenary University (NJ) on Wednesday afternoon in Hackettstown, NJ as the Highlanders fell, 9-8.  
 
Centenary University (14-15, 4-5 Atlantic East) took the lead in the first inning, scoring off a first-and-third situation coming around to score. Cairn (11-17, 4-5 CSAC) got on the scoreboard in the second inning via a solo homerun by sophomore outfielder Dylan Jackson (Levittown, PA / Chestnut Hill College) to deep right field. The Cyclones added three more runs on four hits in the second inning, stretching the lead to 4-1. The Highlanders moved within striking distance in the fourth inning off of a leadoff double by freshman catcher Zach Bauers (Cooper City, FL / Cooper City HS) who was driven in by senior left fielder Sam Spadea (Yardley, PA / Pennsbury HS) on a single to left field. Centenary answered back with another run in the bottom half and stretched the lead in the fifth inning to 7-2 with three hits in the frame.
 
Cairn's response came immediately in the sixth inning. Bauers got things started with a leadoff triple and was scored by Spadea. Jackson followed with another solo homerun, his second of the game. Sophomore first baseman Tyler Warr (Langhorne, PA / Neshaminy HS), utility player Jared Sucro (Kamloops, BC / St. Ann's Academy) and senior center fielder Tyler Fox (Boyertown, PA / West-Mont Christian Academy) each had singles in the inning. Warr and Sucro both came around to score, evening the game at 7-7.
 
Centenary would not be left without an answer as it took the lead in the bottom half with a run from a leadoff triple. The Highlanders evened things up in the eighth inning as senior infielders Brooks Price (Nashville, TN / Franklin Road Academy) and Cam Culver (Croydon, PA / Truman HS) each had a key hit in the frame, Culver scoring Price following his triple. Centenary retook the lead in the bottom half with a single run as they closed the door on Cairn in the top of the ninth.
 
The Highlander offense was led by Jackson who went two-for-four with two home runs, joining Caleb Lang, Michael Sorowice, Daniel Morales, and Caleb Edman as the only Highlanders with two home runs in one game. Jackson added two runs scored and two RBIs followed by Bauers and Fox who each went two-for-five. Spadea added two RBIs on one-for-five hitting.
 
Defensively, Sucro had his second start of the season, throwing 4.0 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits while collecting a strikeout and the no decision. Graduate student Jarrett Johnson (Edison, NJ / Timothy Christian) followed with 1+ innings in relief, allowing two earned runs on four hits and two strikeouts. Junior right hander Ethan Fineman (Langhorne, PA / Neshaminy HS) and sophomore left handed pitcher Joe Battaglia (Brielle, NJ / Brentwood Academy) each tossed a scoreless inning, with Battaglia striking out the side. Sophomore right handed pitcher Ronaldhino Alcin (Miami, FL / North Miami Beach SHS) moved to 3-1 on the season, taking the loss for the Highlanders. Bauers threw out two would be base stealers and picked off one as he tied the single-season record for baserunners caught stealing at 19.
 
The Highlanders host the Defenders of Clarks Summit University at home in Langhorne on Friday afternoon in game one of their three-game conference series this weekend. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.