LANGHORNE, PA— Despite out-hitting the Cairn University Highlanders, and playing error-free baseball, the Houghton Highlanders lost the rubber match on Saturday afternoon, 11-7, thanks to an inordinate number of free bases.
 
Houghton pounded out 13 hits to Cairn's five, but the Highlander pitchers walked 16 batters, nine of whom scored, and plunked four more.
 
For the third straight game, Cairn struck early, plating five runs on only two hits in the second.
 
With Cairn leading 9-2 in the top of the seventh, Houghton began to do some damage, plating five runs on five hits, all with two outs.
 
After shutting down the home team in the bottom of the seventh, Houghton loaded the bases with only one out in the top of the eighth.  But a pop up and a strike out squelched the Houghton threat.
 
Cairn tacked on two more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, and despite a Nick Melchiore double in the top of the ninth, Houghton could not cut into the lead.
 
GAME VITALS                           
Score: Houghton – 7 | Cairn – 11
Records: Houghton: 1-2 | Cairn: 3-5
Venue: Cairn University baseball field | Attendance: 60
 
KEY STATS:
>> The 16 walks issued by the Houghton pitching staff is the most since the Highlanders lost on a two-out walk-off in the bottom of the ninth to Wilkes University, 6-7, on March 3, 2017.
 
>> Joe Gross and Jeremy Newswanger each posted three-hit efforts for Houghton, while Zach Parr and Jared Couch added two hits apiece.

COACH'S CORNER:
"We honestly did a lot of things well today.  I thought we strung together some quality at bats, and we played good defense all day long.  Jeremy Newswanger had a great all around day, offensively and defensively.
 
"Losing Wayne Rode to injury in the first inning was a blow, but Nick Melchiore and Zach Parr did a commendable job in his place.
 
"It's really tough to win games when you give away 20 free passes.  The fact that they only scored 11 runs is a testimony to our defense.  That's an area where we will have to improve in order to be competitive on a regular basis. 
 
"What was good, though, was that our team continued to battle throughout.  Even when we were down, 9-2, late in the game, we continued to put together good at bats and stayed focused.  Our pitching will improve, and when it does we'll put the entire package together." – Coach Brian Reitnour
 
UP NEXT:
The Highlanders head south to Fort Pierce, Florida tonight and will play a single tilt against Northland College at 12:00 p.m.