LANGHORNE, PA - The Cavaliers put up crooked frames in four consecutive innings to outlast the hosting Cairn Highlanders by a final score of 12-8. Every position player for the Blue and White recorded at least one hit with
Shaun Stackhouse (2-4, 2R, 3RBI's, 2SB),
Alex Del Giudice (2-5, 1R, 2RBI's) and
Vince Gares (2-4, 2R) each turning in multi hit performances.
Josh Breittholz (6IP, 9H, 4R, 3ER, 4BB, 3K) earned his fifth win of the season after turning in six innings of three run ball. The righty was dominant when he needed to be as he stranded nine Highlanders on base over his six frames to escape potential trouble.
After three clean innings from both teams to start the game, the Blue and White struck first and in a big way thanks to
Dylan Butler's sixth home run of the season - a two run shot to left that plated
Colin Birzes.
The Highlanders responded in their half, however as they took a 3-2 lead after a two RBI triple followed by a sac fly two batters later.
After
Michael Mescia led off the top of the fifth with a double to left center and Stackhouse reached on an error,
Tyler Norris walked to load the bases and put the pressure on the Highlanders with nobody out. A groundout from Birzes and a single from Del Giudice gave the lead back to the Cavaliers, this time a 5-2 advantage.
The Cavs struck for four more in the sixth courtesy of a two RBI double off the bat of Stackhouse, followed by an RBI infield single from Norris and capped off with single to left off the bat of Birzes.
Two more runs in the seventh gave the Cavs a comfortable 11-4 lead, but proved to be important insurance runs as the Highlanders would strike for four runs in the bottom of the eighth off of four singles to cut the Cavaliers' lead to 11-8.
A ninth inning home run from
Joe Aurite, the first of his career, gave the Blue and White all they would need as they would take game one of the three game series by a 12-8 final.
Kameron Bradshaw took the loss for the Highlanders as he lasted four innings and gave up four runs, although only two were earned. Brendan Keller paced the Highlanders on the offensive side as the freshman finished the day 4-4 with two runs and two RBI's.
Stackhouse picked up his team leading 14th and 15th stolen bases on he day, while Butler added to his already team leading RBI count, which now stands at 23.
The season finale double header against the Highlanders is scheduled for Saturday at 1pm.
