POTTSTOWN, PA – The Cairn University Highlanders Baseball team took on the Patriots of Valley Forge on Saturday, completing the 3-game sweep as they pulled out a close 4-3 win in game one followed by another offensive showcase, 22-8, in game two.
 
GAME ONE
Sophomore catcher Zach Bauers (Cooper City, FL / Cooper City) got things started in game one with a two RBI single, scoring freshman centerfielder Zachary Johnson (Hawaii Kai, HI / TCS Post Grad Academy) and junior right fielder Dylan Jackson (Levittown, PA / Truman). In the fourth, fifth year second baseman Joe Greenwood (Wall, NJ / Calvary Academy) added another, driving in classmate designated hitter Tyler Fox (Boyertown, PA / West-Mont Christian Academy) after fox stole second to get into scoring position. Cairn (7-5) added an insurance run in the top of the sixth with fifth year third baseman Sam Spadea (Yardley, PA / Pennsbury) scoring junior left fielder Will Wikner (Gaithersburg, MD / Shenandoah University) on an RBI single.
 
Valley Forge (5-10) threatened in the bottom half, getting on the scoreboard with an RBI single and following up with a 2-run double to make it a 4-3 game. Freshman righty Mikey Gutierrez (Cooper City, FL / St. Thomas Aquinas) got the win (2-2), going the distance of 6.1 inning allowing 0 earned runs and striking out four. Sophomore lefty Nick Benson (Philadelphia, PA / Father Judge) picked up the save, his first of the year.
 
Jackson had a game-high three hits, going 3-4 in game one with a run scored. Bauers went 1-4 with a pair of RBIs.
 
GAME TWO
It was all Cairn to start game two as junior first baseman Tyler Warr (Langhorne, PA / Neshaminy) kicked off the offense on a two-run double in the first, scoring Bauers and Jackson. In the second, Jackson worked a walk with the bases loaded followed by a two-run double from Bauers. Fox got the ball in the air for a sacrifice fly to score Jackson as the Highlanders were up 6-0 early. Johnson singled to center, scoring Fox to add another run to the tally. Valley Forge got on the board in the bottom half, scoring a run an on RBI single.
 
Cairn doubled their lead in the fourth as nine Highlanders came around to score. Bauers and Wikner walked with a single by Warr in between to load the bases. Fox singled, scoring Bauers with Greenwood scoring Warr on a fielder's choice. Johnson walked in Wikner with an RBI single from Jackson to follow. Bauers walked for the second time in the inning followed by another single from Warr, Bauers scoring one and Warr driving in a pair. Wikner drove in two with a double as the Highlanders were now ahead 16-1.
 
The Patriots scored three in the bottom half to cut the deficit to 16-4. Greenwood singled to right to get the top of the fifth underway with Johnson reaching on an error and Jackson working a walk to load the bases. Bauers walked for the fourth time, scoring junior outfielder Tyler Harris (Oxford, PA / Oxford Area HS) who came in to run for Jackson. Warr singled to bring in his sixth and seventh RBI of the game with Cairn ahead 20-4. Valley Forge scored two more in the bottom half with the lead now out of reach. The Patriots scored once in the sixth and seventh as Cairn added two more of their own by way of freshman first baseman Zachary Dennis (Midland Park, NJ / Midland Park HS) and classmate catcher Isaac Peterson (Ocean City, NJ / Ocean City).
 
Junior lefty Brett Bottinger (Plymouth Meeting, PA / Chestnut Hill College) got the start, picking up the no decision with 3.0 innings pitched, allowing a single run. Classmate Joe Battaglia (Franklin, TN / Brentwood Academy) picked up the win (2-0) in relief, effectively pitching to put out the fire in the fourth inning. Senior right-hander Connor Ferguson (Laguna Niguel, CA / Capistrano Valley Christian) closed the door in the seventh, allowing an unearned run and striking out a pair.
 
Warr led the way with a 4-4 performance and a career-high 7 RBI and two runs. Fox went 3-3 with two runs as well and an RBI. Bauers had a hit with four walks and 4 RBI and Jackson followed up game one with another hit and 2 RBI.
 
The Highlanders take aim at Franklin & Marshall on Wednesday at home (3:30 p.m. EDT) before hosting Keystone College on Friday afternoon in conference play.