The game remained deadlocked until the fifth inning when Swarthmore broke the stalemate with a solitary run to take a 1-0 lead. However, Cairn rallied in the sixth, pushing across a pair of runs to surge ahead before extending their advantage with a four-run outburst in the seventh.
Despite Swarthmore's efforts to mount a comeback, scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh, Cairn held firm.
In the eighth inning, Cairn added an insurance run to widen the gap to 7-4, effectively sealing the win as Swarthmore couldn't muster a late rally in their final at-bat.
Aidan Sullivan had an impressive showing for Swarthmore, going 2-for-2 with two walks and a run scored, while Matthew Silvestre contributed with two hits and two RBIs, alongside Benjamin Buchman, who also tallied two hits. Both Sullivan and Silvestre notched doubles for Swarthmore.
On the mound, Mikey Gutierrez earned the win for Cairn, allowing just one run on six hits across five solid innings while recording seven strikeouts.
In other local D-III action
Immaculata began their 2024 home schedule with a solid 8-3 win over Delaware Valley on Tuesday afternoon. Matt Long started on the mound for the Mighty Macs, striking out five batters over four innings while allowing one run on six hits. Alexander Singer earned his first win of the season with four strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings, and Derek Andrada closed out the top half of the seventh with one strikeout in his 2/3 inning of relief.
Joey Wright played a key role in the victory, breaking a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning with an RBI-single and later adding a two-run single in the sixth. Josh Crowding also contributed with a pair of RBIs.
Other scores
Penn State Hazelton 8, Valley Forge 4
