LANTANA, Fla. - Senior Ray Keelan (Barnegat, NJ/Southern Regional) became Caldwell College's all-time leader in career hits as the Cougar baseball team split a doubleheader with St. Michael's College on Wednesday at the Palm Beach Challenge, held at the Santaluces Sportplex. Caldwell won the first game 9-3 before losing the second 8-4. The results leave Caldwell with a record of 4-7 on the season.

Keelan entered the first game two hits behind the school record of 186, held by former Cougar standout Hasani Whitfield. He hit a run-scoring single in the bottom of the first, then tied the record with a lead-off single in the sixth. Freshman Adolfo Lopez (Ontario, CA/Ontario) had a two-run single to spark a four-run third inning that made the score 7-2. Lopez finished with two hits, while senior Andrew Robertson (Coral Springs, FL/Taravella) also recorded two hits and scored three runs. Keelan excelled on the mound as well, holding the Purple Knights to three runs on nine hits while striking out four in a complete-game victory.

In the second game, St. Michael's scored seven runs in the first two innings to take control early. Matt Beaulieu hit a bases-loaded triple, while Chad Estey and Tony Bonvechio each had two-run doubles. Caldwell got on the scoreboard in the top of the third with a single by sophomore Jorge Ynoa (Bayside, NY/Bayside) that plated sophomore Joe Doerrer (Middletown, NJ/Raritan). The Cougars pushed two runs in the fourth on run-scoring hits from seniors Juan Pinero (Bronx, NY/Christopher Columbus) and Brian Corsi (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) to make the score 7-3. After St. Michael's scored a run in the bottom of the fourth, Keelan, who struck out in his first two at-bats, led off the fifth with a single to become Caldwell's all-time hits leader. He advanced to third on a pair of walks, then scored on a single by Pinero to make the score 8-4 Purple Knights.

Freshman right-hander Mark Sarrao (Riverdale, NJ/Pompton Lakes) lasted two innings and took the loss for Caldwell. Doerrer finished with three hits, while Pinero had two hits and two RBI. Andrew Kelly went the distance for St. Michael's, allowing 11 hits and four runs while walking four and striking out six.

The Cougars finish up their Florida trip with a game against the University of New Haven on Thursday, Mar. 18, beginning at 11:00 a.m. in Lantana, Fla.