CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – The Cairn University softball team opened up Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) play with a doubleheader split against defending conference champion Wilson College on the road on Wednesday evening, defeating the host Phoenix, 13-1 in game one, before dropping a 15-8 decision in the nightcap.
In game one, Cairn (6-10, 1-1 CSAC) jumped on board with four runs in the first two innings, highlighted by a two-RBI base knock in the first inning by senior
Kacey Wees (Irwin, PA / Hempfield). Wilson (7-11, 1-3 CSAC) got its only run of the contest in the fifth frame to cut the deficit to 4-1. In the sixth, the Highlander bats exploded with four runs, extending the lead to 8-1, and Cairn added another five insurances runs in the top of the seventh to finish off the contest.
Cairn was led offensively by sophomore
Abbi Heacock (Media, PA / Delco Christian), who tied the single-game program record with five hits on the five-for-five day at the plate (first player with five hits in a game since 2009). Heacock added three runs scored and three RBIs. Wees followed with three hits and matched Heacock by driving in three runs. Seniors
Theresa Beck (Lansdale, PA / Dock Mennonite Academy) and
Jenna Kenyon (Clarksville, MD / River Hill) added a pair of base knocks, while junior
Katie Fauske (Staten Island, NY / Port Richmond) contributed two hits and two runs. Wees earned her sixth win in the circle, tossing a complete-game, one-run performance.
Wilson took the early lead in game two after putting up four runs in the second inning. Cairn tied the game up at four-all with a four-spot in the third frame, highlighted by a pair of RBI-doubles by Kenyon and freshman
Sydney Wright (Souderton, PA / Souderton). The Phoenix led 11-6 entering the sixth inning, before Beck made it a two-run game (11-8) following a two-RBI double. The game was ruled final after six innings due to darkness.
Wees, Kenyon and junior
Adriana Shannon (Marlton, NJ / Cherokee) each tallied multi-hit games in game two, while Wright posted a team-high three RBIs.
The Highlanders will be back on the field on Saturday, April 8 when they return home for a conference doubleheader against Notre Dame of Maryland University inside the Stillman Complex starting at 10 a.m.
