PARSIPPANY, N.J. - Senior outfielder Hasani Whitfield (Briarwood, NY/Molloy) hit a pair of home runs as the Caldwell College baseball team defeated Nyack College, 17-7 in the first game of a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at Smith Field. The second game was halted due to darkness in the fifth inning with the Cougars leading 7-1. The game will be resumed at Smith Field on Monday, Apr. 18 at 3:30 p.m.

The Cougars (10-14, 4-3 CACC) scored five runs in the first inning before Whitfield hit a two-run homer in the second to give Caldwell a 7-4 lead. But three unearned runs in the top of the third inning allowed Nyack (6-11, 3-6 CACC) to tie the game at 7-7. Senior Ryan McGee (Cedarhurst, NY/Lawrence) put the Cougars ahead for good with a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the third. Junior Nick Mauro (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning, his first of the season, then Whitfield left the yard for the second time on the day and fifth time this year in the sixth inning, a three-run shot.

Whitfield, who is batting .437 on the season to lead Caldwell, went 2-for-3 with five runs batted in and three runs scored. McGee had three hits and two RBI on the day, while Mauro, seniors Mike Kolesar (New City, NY/Clarkstown North) and Fadul Bambino (Astoria, NY/Queensborough CC) and sophomore Andy Chunn (Lewes, DE/Cape Henlopen) each had two hits.

Starter Derek York (Lanoka Harbor, NJ/Lacey Twp) gave up seven runs (three earned) and seven hits in the first three innings, but allowed just two hits after that to earn the victory and improve to 2-2.

The Cougars host Post University in a CACC game on Friday, Apr. 15. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Smith Field.