MYRTLE BEACH, SC — The Houghton Highlanders closed out their spring trip in Myrtle Beach with a 14-8 victory over Eastern University on Saturday morning, avenging a loss to the Eagles earlier this past week.
 
Ethan Cetton picked up his first win of the season on the mound, tossing six innings, giving up four earned runs on nine hits without allowing a walk and striking out four.  The win gave the Highlanders their third straight victory, and tied Cetton with Ryan Newtown ('23) for most career wins by a Houghton pitcher.
 
The Highlanders grabbed an early lead when Qinyang Feng deposited the first pitch of the bottom half of the first inning over the right field wall.  The Eagles, however, would pick up two runs in the top of the third, and three more in the top of the fourth to take a 5-1 lead.
 
Houghton responded with six runs in the bottom of the fourth on four hits, three walks and a hit-by-pitch, then tacked on four more in the bottom of the fifth to take a 10-5 lead.
 
While each team would put up a few more numbers on the board, that two-inning production would be all the scoring the Highlanders would need as the bullpen closed the door four the team's fourth win of the season.
 
GAME VITALS                           
Score: Eastern – 8 | Houghton – 14
Records: Eastern: 5-5 | Houghton: 4-4
Venue: Crosley Field, The Ripken Experience | Attendance: 85
 
KEY STATS:
>> Earlier this week Cetton broke the Highlanders' career innings pitched record, previously held by Seth Cornell ('15).  He is also currently fourth in career strikeouts with 178.  The three pitchers in front of him are Cornell (207), Hunter Kendall ('23, 208) and Victor Cavalieri ('18, 211).
 
>> Feng picked up his fourth multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored, and four RBI. 
 
>> While the Eagles outhit the Highlanders, 14-7, Houghton pitchers walked only two and hit three, while Eastern's pitchers walked 10 and hit four.
 
COACH'S CORNER:
"I told our team after the game that this one certainly wasn't our prettiest win, but sometimes the mark of a good team is if they can win the ugly ones.  We did that today.
 
"We were patient at the plate and came through with big hits when we needed them.  And we pitched well enough to win.  It feels good to head home with three straight Ws.
 
"My hat's off to Ethan [Cetton].  He has transformed himself, both on and off the field, during his time with us.  Eastern put some good swings on the ball today, but he didn't walk a single batter and kept us competitive.  That was exactly what we needed from him." –Head Coach Brian Reitnour
 
UP NEXT:
The Highlanders will play their home-opener this upcoming Thursday, March 13, when they host the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford Panthers for a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m.