MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Freshman outfielder Adric Saxon (Coral Springs, FL/Broward CC) recorded seven hits and four runs batted in to help the Caldwell College baseball team defeat Dowling College and Mercy College in back-to-back games Saturday afternoon. The wins kept the Cougars undefeated at 3-0 on the season.

In the day's first game, a pair of unearned runs in the top of the first put Dowling ahead early. An RBI single by freshman John Irwin (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) in the second cut the deficit in half. Junior Chris Chiarappa (Elmont, NY/Holy Trinity) smacked a three-run home run in the bottom of the third to put Caldwell ahead to stay. Freshman Andrew Robertson (Coral Springs, FL/Taravella) and Chiarappa each hit run-scoring doubles, and Saxon and senior Billy Ryan (Toms River, NJ/Manchester) added RBI singles as the Cougars went on to win 9-2.

Sophomore pitcher Eric Hines (Milltown, NJ/Spotswood), who missed most of the 2006 season with an injury, held the Lions to just two unearned runs and two hits in eight innings of work. Saxon went 4-for-5 with two runs and an RBI to lead Caldwell at the plate.

In the nightcap, Saxon and fellow frosh Doug Hilgenberg (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) each had three RBIs to pace Caldwell to a 10-7 win over Mercy College. The Cougars jumped out to a 4-0 lead after one inning as both Hilgenberg and Saxon hit run-scoring doubles in the inning. Chiarappa belted his second home run of the day, a two-run shot in a three-run third inning that put Caldwell ahead 7-0. Mercy scored three runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to cut the lead to 7-5. Saxon answered for Caldwell in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run triple, then scored on Ryan's sacrifice fly to give the Cougars a 10-5 lead. Mercy scored a run in each of the final two innings, but freshman pitcher Buddy Riggs (Coral Springs, FL/Taravella) closed the door in the ninth to record his first collegiate save.

Freshman right-hander Robert Casal (Howard Beach, NY/St. Francis Prep) earned the first win of his career, going six innings while giving up five runs, two earned, and four hits and fanning five.

Caldwell completes its stay in South Carolina with a game against Queens College on Sunday, Feb. 25, beginning at 12:00 p.m.