ORANGEBURG, N.Y. - The Caldwell College baseball team scored five runs in the sixth and seventh innings each to defeat Dominican College, 16-9 in a game between the top two teams in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference standings Wednesday afternoon at Veterans Field. Freshman Doug Hilgenberg (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central), who belted a grand slam in the sixth, was one of four Cougars to hit a home run in the win, which gives Caldwell a 5-1 conference record (13-6 overall). The Chargers drop to 9-8 on the season, including a 3-2 mark in the CACC.
Freshman Omar Velazquez (Astoria, NY/Long Island City) put the Cougars on the board first with a two-run homer in the top of the third, his fourth of the year. Dominican tied the game in the bottom of the third with a pair of unearned runs. Freshman Raymond Keelan (Barnegat, NJ/Southern Regional) gave Caldwell another brief lead with his third homer of the season, a solo shot that made the score 3-2. But again the Chargers tied the game in the bottom-half of the inning on a bases-loaded walk.
The Cougars blew the game open in the sixth, with all five runs coming off of home runs. Sophomore Jorge Torres (Coral Springs, FL/Taravella) hit a solo home run with one out. After the Cougars loaded the bases, Hilgenberg stepped up and delivered his first collegiate home run, a grand slam that put the Cougars ahead 8-3. In the seventh, Caldwell received two-run doubles from Velazquez and junior Chris Chiarappa (Elmont, NY/Holy Trinity), and an RBI single from freshman Jon Irwin (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) for a commanding 13-3 advantage. Another two-run double from junior Ryan Glasco (Manhasset, NY/Manhasset) and a run-scoring single by senior Efrain Velazquez (Brick, NJ/Brick Twp.) in the eighth inning made it 16-3 Caldwell. The Chargers made a push in the bottom of the ninth with six runs, including a homer by Jose Made to lead off the inning. But it was not enough as the Cougars picked up their fifth straight CACC victory.
Omar Velazquez and Keelan each had three hits in the game, with Velazquez knocking home four runs. Sophomore starter Eric Hines (Milltown, NJ/Spotswood) improved to 5-2 after giving up seven hits and three runs, one earned, while striking out five and walking three in 5 2/3 innings. Dominican's Joseph Catanese also pitched 5 2/3 innings to take the loss, allowing seven hits and eight runs despite fanning 10 batters.
The Cougars return to action on Thursday, Apr. 12 with a non-conference game at Molloy College. The game is set to start at 3:30 p.m. in Rockville Centre, N.Y.
