MADISON, NJ – The Cairn University Baseball team took on Saint Elizabeth University at FDU-Florham on Friday afternoon, holding off the Eagles' comeback to force extra innings and win 7-6 in 10 innings.
Cairn (15-12 / 9-4 UNITED EAST SKYE DIVISION) was the first to score as junior right fielder
Dylan Jackson (Levittown, PA / Chestnut Hill College) drew a one out walk, stole second and was driven in as fifth year second baseman
Joe Greenwood (Wall, NJ / Calvary Academy) walked to load the bases and freshman center fielder
Zachary Johnson (Hawaii Kai, HI / TCS Post Grad) was hit by a pitch.
Saint Elizabeth (8-16 / 4-6 UNITED EAST SKYE DIVISION) tied things up in the third on a pair of singles, an error, and sacrifice fly. The Highlanders went ahead 3-1 as Johnson reached on an error to lead off the fourth, stealing second and putting runners on the corners as fifth year third baseman
Sam Spadea (Yardley, PA / Pennsbury) singled through the left side. Freshman shortstop
Nathan Schurga (Wilmington, DE / Conrad Schools of Science) scored Johnson on a sacrifice fly. Fifth year designated hitter
Tyler Fox (Boyertown, PA / West-Mont Christian Academy) and junior left fielder
Will Wikner (Gaithersburg, MD / Shenandoah University) each singled in the infield, driving in another run and loading the bases before Jackson scored Spadea on a sacrifice fly.
The Highlanders added two more runs for a cushion on their lead in the fifth with Schurga hitting a two-run single to score Johnson and sophomore catcher
Zach Bauers (Cooper City, FL / Cooper City) after they both singled to start the inning. Jackson hit a solo shot in the sixth, putting Cairn ahead 6-1. The Eagles found a way to scratch across a run in the bottom half on two hits and an error, making the lead 6-2. In the eighth, Saint Elizabeth added two more on two singles as the Highlanders headed to the ninth inning ahead 6-4.
The Eagles hit back-to-back doubles to lead off their last turn at bat, driving a 2 RBI single up the middle to tie the game. Cairn was able to stand the winning run on second base to force extra innings. In the tenth, Spadea led off with a go-ahead solo home run to left field, putting Cairn up 7-6. That would be all the Highlanders would need as sophomore righty
Greg Jessup (Tyler, TX / McKinney Christian Academy) would sit the Eagles down in order to take the 7-6 win for the Highlanders.
Senior right hander
Eli Schooley (Horseheads, NY / Horseheads) got the game one start, throwing 7.0 innings with seven strikeouts and the no decision as he surrendered only a single earned run. Spadea went 3-5 with two runs and an RBI on the solo homer, Jackson adding a homer as well to his 2-3 day with 2 RBI.
The Highlanders host Saint Elizabeth at 12 & 2 p.m. for games two and three in Langhorne on Saturday.
