LANTANA, Fla. - A pair of big innings lifted the Caldwell College baseball team to a 10-7 victory over the University of New Haven Tuesday afternoon at the Santaluces Sports Complex. The victory gives the Cougars a 3-5 record on the season, while the Chargers drop to 3-4.
New Haven put two runs on the board in the top of the first on a two-run double from Jimmy Rivas. The Cougar bats responded in the bottom of the first with five runs on five hits, sending nine batters to the plate. Junior Andrew Robertson (Coral Springs, FL/Taravella) singled home two runs, while juniors Doug Hilgenberg (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) and Juan Pinero (Bronx, NY/Columbus) both drove in runs in the inning. A single by junior Ray Keelan (Barnegat, NJ/Southern Regional) in the bottom of the second plated freshman Joe Doerrer (Middletown, NJ/Raritan) to put the Cougars on top 6-2.
The Chargers scored a run in the third, then took the lead with four runs in the fourth inning. Rivas hit his second two-run double of the game as New Haven recorded four hits in the fourth for a 7-6 advantage. Again Caldwell answered in the bottom-half of the inning, scoring four times on four hits, all with two outs. Doerrer reached on an error, then scored on a double by senior Jorge Torres (Coral Springs, FL/Taravella). Torres came home on a single by Keelan, who later scored along with senior Aaron Hoffstatter (Glasco, NY/Saugerties) on a Pinero single. Junior pitcher Thomas Forkin (Oceanside, NY/Holy Trinity) retired 15 of 16 New Haven batters over the last five innings to wrap up the win.
Forkin, who relieved starter Keelan in the fourth, allowed two hits and no runs while striking out four and walking none in 5 2/3 innings. Keelan went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs and two RBIs, while Pinero, pictured, finished with two hits and three RBIs. Rivas paced the New Haven bats with three doubles and four RBIs.
The Cougars play their final game in Florida on Wednesday, Mar. 18 against Merrimack College. The first pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at the Santaluces Sports Complex.
