LANGHORNE, Pa. - The Norwich University baseball team opened its season with a non-conference doubleheader at Cairn University on Friday afternoon. 

The Highlanders swept the Cadets with an win 11-4 in game one and 4-2 in the second tilt.

Cairn jumped out to an early 8-0 lead through two innings in game one before Norwich was able to plate a run.

In the top of the third inning senior outfielder LaShawn Thomas (San Antonio, Texas) drew a one out walk and advanced to second on a single down the right field line by sophomore Mike Lesco (Somers, Conn.). One out later senior Brandon Pedley (Northfield, Vt.) delivered a two-run single to right to cut the defecit to 8-2.

The Highlanders added another run in the bottom of the fram to make it 9-2 but the Cadet bats answered once again in the top of the fourth.  Senior third baseman Matt Sirois (Southington, Conn.) reached first with one out on an error before freshman second baseman Brady Doherty (Sandwich, Mass.) delivered his first career hit, an RBI triple to the deepest part of the ballpark in center field. Sophomore Kevin Lynch (Randolph, Mass.) followed with an RBI groundout that cut the lead to 9-4. Thomas then singled and Lesco delivered a ground-rule double to put runners on second and third with two out, but Norwich was unable to plate either man. 

The Cadets were unable to plate any more runs as the Highlanders added one run in both the fifth and sixth innings for an 11-4 final score.

Sophomore Jake Ryan (Arlington, Mass.) took the loss for Norwich to fall to 0-1 after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits and two walks over one and one-third innings. He also struck out two batters.

Freshman outfielder Oliver Brown (Waldoboro, Maine) registered his first career hit in the game, a leadoff double in the top of the seventh frame.

In game two, the Cadets didn't waste any time, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Sirois scored Thomas with an RBI single.

The Highlanders instantly answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 lead. Both teams' offenses fell silent until the bottom of the fifth when Cairn added an insurance run to make it 3-1 but the Norwich offense didn't stay quiet.

Senior first baseman Billy Whaley (Northfield, Vt.) reached first with a one-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Junior DH Eddie Gates (Griswold, Conn.) stepped to the plate and launched a double to deep center that plated Whaley and set the score to 3-2. Gates was thrown out trying to stretch the double into a triple.

The Highlanders answered again with a run in the bottom of the sixth frame to reinstate a two-run lead at 4-2.

Norwich tried to rally in the top of the seventh as Lesco sent a one-out infield single up the middle and Thomas then reached on an error. Lynch then grounded out while moving both runners up and Sirois flied out to center to end the threat and the contest.

Senior Kaleb Smith (Dover Foxcroft, Maine) was saddled with the loss to fall to 0-1 on the season. He threw five innings and allowed three runs (all earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out five batters.

Cairn improves to 2-0 while Norwich falls to 0-2 on the young season.

The Cadets will be right back in action on Saturday morning for a non-conference doubleheader at Wesley College. Game times are set for 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.