CC 1, PU 0
CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College baseball team began a new era on Sunday, sweeping a doubleheader with Philadelphia University in the program's first games at the newly-renovated Kiwanis Oval. The games also marked the first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contests of the season for the Cougars, who are now 7-8 overall and 2-0 in league play. The Rams fall to 1-11, 0-2 CACC.

The Kiwanis Oval, which is located just west of the Caldwell College campus on Provost Square, was renovated last fall and features a state-of-the-art baseball field with artificial turf. The renovations were funded by the towns of Caldwell and West Caldwell, Essex County and Caldwell College.

In the first game, the Cougars spotted Philadelphia a 2-0 lead before getting on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman Paul Nyitray (Cranford, NJ/St. Joseph) hit a two-out double that brought home freshman Joe O'Donnell (Belleville, NJ/Belleville) with Caldwell's first run at their new home field. After the Rams scored a run in the top of the sixth on a single by T.J. Burgmann, the Cougars answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 3-3. Senior Juan Mejia (Ocean City, NJ/St. Augustine) doubled, then scored on a single by freshman Andrew Nunez (East Elmhurst, NY/Cardozo). Nunez later stole second and came home on O'Donnell's RBI single to tie the score.

In the seventh, Caldwell took the lead for good on a double by junior Jorge Ynoa (Bayside, NY/Bayside) that brought home Nyitray for a 4-3 advantage. O'Donnell, left, helped extend the lead in the bottom of the eight with an RBI triple and a run on a single by sophomore Adolfo Lopez (Ontario, CA/Ontario). Freshman right-hander Robert Bennetti (Laurence Harbor, NJ/Old Bridge) came on in relief in the seventh and retired all nine batters in order, including four strikeouts, to improve to 2-0. Junior Matt Cook (Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) started and allowed three runs on five hits while fanning five and walking two in six innings of work. The Rams' Jeffrey Bohus had two hits and an RBI while pitching six innings with six hits and three runs allowed. Rob Spragis tossed two innings of relief and absorbed the loss.

The second game was a pitching dual between freshman Chris DeRogatis (N. Arlington, NJ/Queen of Peace) and Philadelphia's Jared Farbman. The only run in the game came in the bottom of the third. Lopez reached on an error, advanced to third on a single by junior Joe Doerrer (Middletown, NJ/Raritan) and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Ynoa. DeRogatis, right, blanked the Rams on five hits while striking out five and walking two in six innings. He gave way to sophomore Mark Sarrao (Riverdale, NJ/Pompton Lakes), who pitched two scoreless innings of relief, and freshman Gary Gurino-Burns (N. Massapequa, NY/Plainedge), who earned the save by pitching the ninth.

The Cougars continue CACC play on Wednesday, Mar. 23 with a doubleheader at Concordia College, beginning at 1:00 p.m. in Bronxville, N.Y. The next home game at the Kiwanis Oval is Saturday, Mar. 26 against Chestnut Hill College at 3:00 p.m.

Kiwanis Oval Firsts - Mar. 20, 2011
First pitch - Matt Cook (Caldwell), 11:01 a.m.
First hit - Jeffrey Bohus (Philadelphia), top of first
First Caldwell hit - Paul Nyitray, bottom of third
First run - Anthony DiFrancesco (Philadelphia), top of first
First Caldwell run - Joe O'Donnell, bottom of fifth
First RBI - Jeffrey Bohus (Philadelphia), top of first
First Caldwell RBI - Paul Nyitray, bottom of fifth