CAIRO — Cairo’s run in the Class 4A state playoffs came to an end in the second round on Friday, as the Syrupmakers were swept with 5-0 and 2-0 losses to visiting Marist at Jackie Robinson Field.

“They had two really good pitchers,” Cairo assistant head coach Chris Wheaton said. “We just couldn’t find an answer. When we can get runners on base, we’re a really good baseball team. We struggled today at the plate trying to find it.”

GAME 1

Syrupmaker ace Emerson Hancock took the mound for Game 1, and was immediately met with a challenge to begin the game. With a runner on second, Marist’s Bill Rubright hit a bloop single to left. Cairo’s Garrett Gainous fired the ball toward home plate, but the War Eagles’ Charlie Benson slid headfirst and just beat the throw for the 1-0 lead. In the second, Marist tacked on another run when Connor Stephens hit a solo home run to center field.

Down 2-0 in the bottom half, Cairo secured its first hit off Marist starter Joseph Mannelly, a John Michael Owens single. However, that turned out to be the only knock the Syrupmakers would have until the top of the seventh, when Hancock doubled to start the inning off of reliever Gus Phelts. Cairo struggled to get scoring opportunities throughout the game, with no baserunners in scoring position until the fifth.

Hancock began to settle in on the mound in innings three and four, allowing no runs. He was also able to get his strikeouts, as he fanned eight War Eagles during his five innings of work.

However, Marist broke through again in the fifth, after two quick outs to start the inning. Taking advantage of a walk and three singles, the War Eagles crossed the plate three times, extending their advantage to 5-0.

That was more than enough for Mannelly to work with, and after the Hancock double and a Cooper single, Cairo was handed its first loss of the state playoffs.

GAME 2

The War Eagles jumped ahead early again in Game 2, with a Mannelly single that scored Chris Cathcart for the 1-0 lead in the second. Meanwhile, Cairo continued its struggles at the plate, as it could not get a base hit until the fourth — a Drew Leverette single to right.

Marist brought another runner across for some insurance with its second home run of the night — a solo knock from Cathcart in the fourth.

Although Marist was ahead once again, Cathcart’s hit was the last run the War Eagles would score. Even with the loss, Cairo freshman Blake Touchton was a bright spot for the Syrupmakers on the mound, allowing only two runs on five hits over six innings.

“He’s gonna be something special for us in the coming years,” Wheaton said.