Rosemont, Pa. – The Ravens' defense spoiled two good pitching outings by Rosemont hurlers in today's twi-night CSAC doubleheader against the Cairn Highlanders as Cairn swept the doubleheader. The Ravens dropped to 3-23 (3-13 CSAC) while Cairn took home their first two wins of the season with their record now standing at 2-24 (2-12 CSAC).
Before the games, the team paid tribute to the three seniors graduating in the Class of 2015: Liz Coyne, Gianna Pedone, and Jess Versage.
Game 1 – Cairn 5, Rosemont 4
The Ravens surrendered a run in the top of the first inning, but immediately put runs on the board in the first and second to take a 4-1 lead.
In the first inning, Nikki Maurer doubled home Dani Lelie and Lori Zubrzycki. In the second, it was Zubrzycki's turn to hit in a key moment, lashing a triple to score Alyssa Foronda and Kaitlin Fracchiolla.
Neither team scored over the next two innings, but Cairn scratched out two unearned runs in the 5th frame and another pair in the 6th to take the 5-4 lead. The Ravens couldn't manage a comeback off of Highlanders' pitcher Kelly Hendrickson in their last at-bats as Hendrickson held on for the win, giving up two earned runs with one strikeout and no walks.
Nikki Maurer should have had a better fate as she gave up five runs, but only two earned. She struck out six Highlanders while walking three in taking the loss.
Eight of the nine Ravens had a base knock, with CF Dani Lelie going 2-for-4. Nikki Maurer and Lora Zubrzycki each knocked in two runs for the Ravens.
Game 2 – Cairn 8, Rosemont 5
Early on in the nightcap the two teams matched each other inning-for-inning and run-for-run. Both teams put a couple of runs on the board in the first inning. The Ravens' runs came courtesy of a Nikki Maurer single that plated Gianna Pedone and Dani Lelie.
After a scoreless second inning, both teams put another two runs on the board in the third. For the Ravens, Gianna Pedone doubled to knock in Lelie and Lora Zubrzycki to tie the game at 4-4.
In the 5th inning, Taylor Mohr reached on an error that scored Lelie for an unearned run to put the Ravens ahead 5-4.
But Cairn had a strong comeback in the 6th inning when they scored four runs. The Highlanders had two hits in the inning but two Rosemont errors featured in the four-run rally as none of the Highlanders' runs were earned.
The first six batters in the Rosemont lineup each had a base hit in the nightcap, with Pedone and Maurer getting 2 RBI each.
Maggie Miller became the second hard-luck pitcher on the night for Rosemont. Giving up eight runs in the game, only one run was earned. She struck out four and walked only one. Cairn's Tiffany Gower earned the win, ceding four earned runs (5 in total), striking out a pair and walking five Ravens.
The Ravens return to the field at the Ravens Athletic Complex on Tuesday when they will host the Swarthmore Garnet in a non-conference doubleheader starting at 5:00pm.
