LANTANA, Fla. - The Caldwell College baseball team dropped a non-conference game to the University of New Haven, 6-1 Thursday afternoon at the Santaluces Sportplex. The loss completed the Palm Beach Challenge for the Cougars, who are now 4-8 on the season.

New Haven's big inning came in the top of the third, as the Chargers scored four runs on three hits, including a two-run single by Cory Carr. Runs in the fourth and fifth innings pushed the New Haven lead to 6-0. The Cougars loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth inning on two singles and a hit-batsman. A double play allowed senior Miguel Perdomo (Teaneack, NJ/Bergen Catholic) to score from third but removed the threat of a big inning. Eric Peck retired the final out of the inning on a grounder to second. Freshman Adolfo Lopez (Ontario, CA/Ontario) led off the ninth with a single but was stranded there, as Peck recorded a fly ball, a strikeout and an infield pop-up to close out the game.

Senior pitcher Robert Casal (Howard Beach, NY/St. Francis Prep) started and allowed five runs on five hits while walking three and fanning five in three innings of work. Senior Buddy Riggs (Coral Springs, FL/Taravella) finished the game and held the Chargers to a run on five hits over six innings. Sophomore Jorge Ynoa (Bayside, NY/Bayside) led the offense with two hits. Frank Vilacha blanked Caldwell over seven innings, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out six.

The Cougars begin Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play with a doubleheader at Philadelphia University on Saturday, Mar. 20.