GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - The Caldwell College baseball team saw its comeback attempt fall just short in a 3-2 loss at Adelphi University in non-conference action Tuesday afternoon. The defeat dropped the Cougars to 5-8 on the season, while the Panthers improved to 7-10.
Adelphi scored all the runs they would need early in the game, with two runs in the first inning and one in the second to take a 3-0 lead. Senior Ryan McGee (Cedarhurst, NY/Lawrence) got the Cougars on the scoreboard in the fourth inning, when his single plated senior Mike Kolesar (New City, NY/Clarkstown North). Kolesar scored the Cougars' second run when fellow senior Hasani Whitfield (Briarwood, NY/Molloy) single with one out in the eighth to make the score 3-2. Panthers reliever Mike Thompson then loaded the bases by intentionally walking McGee and hitting sophomore Efrain Velasquez (Brick, NJ/Brick Twp). But the Cougars were unable to capitalize, as Thompson struck out the next batter and induced a groundout to second to end the threat.
In the ninth inning, the Cougars had the tying run on second base with no one out after freshman Rich Gili (Manorville, NY/Shore-Wading River) walked and took second on an error, but they were unable to bring him home as Thompson earned his first save of the season.
The single by Whitfield extended his hitting streak to 10 games. The 2004 All-CACC performer has at least one hit in 12 of Caldwell's 13 games this season. McGee and senior Fadul Bambino (Astoria, NY/Queensborough CC) each had a pair of hits in the loss.
Freshman Eric Hines (Milltown, NJ/Spotswood) turned in another impressive performance on the mound, allowing two earned runs and six hits in six innings while striking out three and walking one. Junior Derek York (Lanoka Harbor, NJ/Lacey Twp) was almost perfect in two shutout innings of relief, walking just one batter and fanning four. Adelphi's Chris Paladino picked up the win after giving up five hits and one run in six innings of work.
The Cougars return to action on Wednesday with a doubleheader against Bloomfield College at Breslin Park in Caldwell's CACC opener. The first game begins at 3:30 p.m.
