WILMINGTON, Del. - Sophomore right-hander Robert Casal (Howard Beach, NY/St. Francis Prep) pitched a three-hit shutout to help the Caldwell College baseball team defeat top-seeded Philadelphia University, 2-0 in the winner's bracket of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Saturday afternoon at Frawley Stadium. The win leaves the second-seeded Cougars (31-17) as the only unbeaten team in the tournament and advances Caldwell to Sunday's championship game. The Cougars will play third-seeded Dominican College, which eliminated Philadelphia in the second game of the day.

Senior Chris Chiarappa (Elmont, NY/Holy Trinity) put the Cougars on the board in the top of the first with a double that brought home senior Tommy Murphy (Monroe, NY/Washingtonville) for a 1-0 lead. The two seniors were at it again in the top of the third, when Murphy led off the inning with a double, then scored on a triple down the right-field line by Chiarappa for a 2-0 advantage. It was Chiarappa's team-leading fourth triple of the season.

Casal dominated the Rams' hitters all game, allowing just one hit through eight innings. Then in the ninth, a pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out for Philadelphia (22-22). But Casal induced a grounder to freshman shortstop Edgar Santos (Woodside, NY/Bryant), who started a game-ending double play that wrapped up the win for Caldwell. The CACC Pitcher of the Year, Casal allowed just three hits and three walks while striking out seven in nine innings of work to improve to 8-4. Philadelphia's Kyle Noonan also went the distance, surrendering six hits and two runs to take the loss.

Caldwell looks to win its second CACC Tournament title in the program's 13-year history when it faces Dominican on Sunday at Wilson Field. The Cougars defeated the Chargers 6-5 in 10 innings in the first game of the CACC Tournament on May 8. The first pitch is set for 10:00 a.m. If Dominican wins, a second and deciding game will be played at 1:00 p.m.