NEW CASTLE, Del. - The Caldwell College baseball team lost to Wilmington College, 12-7 in Game 1 before winning the second game 2-1 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Wilson Field. Junior catcher Chris Chiarappa (Elmont, NY/Holy Trinity) was 5 for 6 in the doubleheader, including a home run in the Game 2 victory. The results give the Cougars a 17-8 overall record, including 9-2 mark in the conference that has them in first place. The Wildcats (21-12) are now in fourth place with a CACC record of 6-5.

Trailing 3-0 in the first game, the Cougars got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth when senior Billy Ryan (Toms River, NJ/Manchester) singled home sophomore Jorge Torres (Coral Springs, FL/Taravella). Wilmington maintained control of the game with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, another in the fifth and six more in the sixth for a commanding 12-1 advantage. Caldwell scored two runs in each of the final three innings, but it was not enough to prevent the Cougars' first conference loss since Mar. 31.

Chiarappa went 3 for 3 with a run and an RBI, while Torres, Ryan and freshman Raymond Keelan (Barnegat, NJ/Southern Regional) had two hits apiece. Sophomore Eric Hines (Milltown, NJ/Spotswood) gave up 11 hits and nine runs (five earned) in 5 1/3 innings to drop to 5-3. Wilmington's Joe Matterer lasted 6 2/3 innings to earn the win, while Brian Testa went 4 for 4 at the plate with four RBIs.

The second game was a pitching dual between Caldwell freshman Robert Casal (Howard Beach, NY/St. Francis Prep) and the Wildcats' Kenny McGrady. The game remained scoreless until Wilmington's Jason Rust hit a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the sixth for just the third hit off Casal to that point. The Cougars tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the seventh on Chiarappa's fourth home run of the season. With the game still tied in the top of the ninth, Keelan singled home Ryan from second base for what proved to be the game-winning run. Casal, who allowed just one hit over the final three innings, fanned two batters and induced a fly out in the bottom of the ninth to wrap up the victory.

Casal improved to 6-1 on the year, giving up just five hits and one run while striking out 12 and walking five in nine innings of work. McGrady went 8 1/3 innings and allowed nine hits and two runs while fanning 10 and walking two. Keelan was 3 for 4 in Game 2, with Chiarappa and junior Tommy Murphy (Monroe, NY/Washingtonville) each collecting two hits.

The Cougars return to action on Monday, Apr. 23, when they host Felician College at Smith Field. The first game of the doubleheader, which begins at 12:00 p.m., is a conference game, with the second game played as a non-conference contest.