HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – The Centenary University softball team suffered a pair of heartbreaking eighth inning losses to Cairn University on Thursday afternoon in Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) play.

The Highlanders took game one by a 3-2 score in eight innings and captured the nightcap by a 4-2 margin in eight innings.

Game One Recap (Cairn Wins 3-2 in Eight)
Cairn got on the board with a run in the top of the first inning. Meagan Maratita had a double to centerfield which scored Haley Tinney.

The Cyclones answered back with a run in the bottom half of that frame. Senior Carolyn Clites plated sophomore Justine Stefura with a single to right field.

Centenary took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth as senior Sammie Darling singled home fellow senior Raychel Piserchia.

Cairn tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the seventh as Jenna Alshay came through with a one out RBI single.

The Highlanders set the Cyclones down in order in the bottom of the seventh and the two teams headed to extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, Shay Walker struck out but a passed ball on the third strike allowed her to reach first safely. With two outs, Katelynn Reiss singled through the left side to score Walker and gave the visitors a 3-2 lead.

The Cyclones got a runner on the bottom of the eighth but were unable to get her home as Cairn claimed the win.

Krista Earl earned the win in the circle after giving up two runs, one of which was earned on four hits in eight innings. Sophomore Jessica Hewitt suffered the loss after giving up one unearned run in 1.2 innings of relief work. Darling went the first 6.1 innings and gave up two runs on seven hits.

Reiss led Cairn at the plate with two hits, a run scored and an RBI.

Clites paced the Cyclones with two hits and an RBI.

Game Two Recap (Cairn Wins 4-2 in Eight)
Cairn got on the board first in game two as well with a run in the top of the third. Maratita reached on a fielder's choice and everyone was safe on the play allowing Alshay to score.

Maratita also contributed to the Highlanders' second run as her single in the fifth scored Tinney.

Centenary tied things up with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Darling and Clites led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Cairn got the first two outs on a fielder's choice and a strikeout but a wild pitch moved both Cyclone runners into scoring position. Hewitt then came through with a single to right which tied the game at 2-2.

Neither team was able to break through in the sixth or seventh innings and the two teams headed to extras for the second time.

After a leadoff walk in the top of the eighth, Earl hit a double to right field. An error by the Cyclones on the play allowed both the base runner and the batter to score and Cairn led 4-2.

Fighting the darkness in the bottom of the eighth, the Cyclones got their first two base runners on but Cairn got three outs to claim the win.

Earl posted her second complete game performance of the day to lead Cairn. She surrendered just two runs on eight hits in eight innings. Hewitt took the loss after giving up three runs, only one of which was earned, on four hits in seven plus innings of work. Darling surrendered one run on three hits in one inning of relief action.

Earl also led the Highlanders at the plate with two hits, a run scored and an RBI.

Freshman Tessa Ferentinos led the Cyclones with three hits in game two while Hewitt had a pair of hits and two RBIs.

The Cyclones are scheduled to visit Marywood on Friday, April 27 for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.