MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - A two-out single by sophomore outfielder Adric Saxon (Coral Springs, FL/Broward CC) in the bottom of the 10th inning gave the Caldwell College baseball team a 4-3 triumph over Mercy College Sunday afternoon in the final game of the Northeast Challenge, held at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Cougars leave South Carolina with a 3-2 record, while the Mavericks drop to 1-4.
After Caldwell took a 3-0 lead, Mercy scored two runs in the seventh and one in the ninth to tie the game at 3-3. The Cougars loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, but Mavericks reliever Matt Moreno got out of the inning with a strikeout and fly out. Sophomore pitcher Robert Casal (Howard Beach, NY/St. Francis Prep), who came on in relief in the ninth, retired the side in order in the top of the 10th. With two out in the bottom of the 10th, senior Chris Chiarappa (Elmont, NY/Holy Trinity) doubled off Moreno to left centerfield. After Saxon followed with a single to left, Chiarappa raced home and scored the game-winning run when the throw was off the mark.
Sophomore Ray Keelan (Barnegat, NJ/Southern Regional) went 4-for-4 and drove in Caldwell's first three runs,, plating Chiarappa with an infield single in the first and scoring Saxon and Chiarappa with a double in the fifth. Chiarappa had a single, double and a triple while scoring three times in a 3-for-6 day. Saxon also had three hits, with sophomore Andrew Robetson (Coral Springs, FL/Taravella) recording two hits.
The Cougars received another strong outing from their starting pitcher, as sophomore Omar Velazquez (Astoria, NY/Long Island City) allowed two runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. Freshman right-hander Anthony Velazquez (Flushing, NY/Bayside), who came into the game with one out and a runner on third in the top of the seventh, did not allow a hit in 1 2/3 innings of relief. Casal (1-1) pitched two innings and earned his first win of the season.
Caldwell's next game is on Saturday, Mar. 8 against fifth-ranked Franklin Pierce University. The non-conference doubleheader will be played at Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y., with the first game starting at 12:00 p.m.
