CENTER VALLEY, PA – Cairn made the trip out to Center Valley to take on DeSales on Thursday, coming up short after a big offensive showing, 20-16.
 
Cairn (15-11 / 4-3 UNITED EAST) got the scoring off started with senior outfielder Tyler Harris (Oxford, PA / Oxford Area) singling down the left field line, bringing home two runs and setting the tone in the first. Sophomore shortstop Nathan Schurga (Wilmington, DE / Conrad Schools of Science) joined in on the early scoring as picked up an RBI getting the ball in play, giving Cairn a 3-0 lead. DeSales (15-11 / 7-5 MAC FREEDOM) wouldn't be silenced, as they scored 4 straight runs in the bottom of the first, taking over the reigns.

DeSales would then go on to put up a crooked number of six runs in the second, coming on five hits to get the Bulldogs up 10-3. Freshman infielder JC Alley (Townsend, DE / Odessa) would begin the response in the third with a 2-RBI single. Senior outfielder Dylan Jackson (Levittown, PA / Chestnut Hill College) came up next with a single to right, bringing in another run as senior outfielder Will Wikner (Gaithersburg, MD / Shenandoah University) strung together the third-straight hit for the Highlanders, cutting the Bulldogs' lead to two (10-8).

DeSales would go on to add another run in the bottom of the third, upping their lead to 3. After a scoreless fourth, Alley got started with another single, Jackson bunting for a hit and Wikner reaching reach on an error, bringing in another run. Senior first baseman Tyler Warr (Langhorne, PA / Neshaminy) would hit a three run shot to center field, giving the Highlanders a 12-11 before junior infielder Ben Gagnon (Bethlehem, PA / Northampton CC) added on with a single down the left field line to go ahead 13-11. The Bulldogs would respond once again, taking the lead back on five walks and a hit in the fifth inning, 14-13.

Alley would get hit by a pitch with one out in the sixth, moving over on a wild pitch and scoring as Wikner hit a single up the middle to tie the score at 14 apiece. DeSales continued to score, erasing the Highlanders' lead with an RBI double in the bottom half as they went on to score another three runs in the seventh inning with two more in the eight, making the score 20-15 as Jackson added an RBI double. With their last chance in the ninth, Cairn would scratch across another run as Gagnon scored junior catcher Zach Bauers (Cooper City, FL / Cooper City) with a ball to the right side. The Highlanders would go down in order after that, making 20-16 the final score.

Jackson had an impressive 4-6 afternoon with a pair of RBI and three runs to lead the Highlanders. Wikner, Bauers, Harris, and Alley all chipped in with two hits, Wikner with three RBI while Alley scored four times and provided 2 RBI. Warr and Gagnon rounded out Cairn's 14 hits as Warr hit his ninth home run of the year.

 
The Highlanders look to get back on track with a conference doubleheader against the Wilson Phoenix at home Sunday starting with a noon first pitch in Langhorne.