GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - The Caldwell College baseball team used a three-run eighth inning to earn a come-from-behind, 7-6 victory over Adelphi University in a non-conference game Tuesday afternoon at Adelphi's William J. Bonomo Field. The victory is the first of the season for the Cougars (1-2), while the Panthers fall to 3-3-1.

Caldwell scored a run in the top of the first inning, when senior first-baseman Juan Mejia (Ocean City, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) singled home freshman Paul Nyitray (Cranford, NJ/St. Joseph). After Adelphi tied the game with a run in the bottom of the first, Nyitray came through with a three-run home run in the top of the second for a 4-1 lead. But as they did in the first inning, the Panthers tied the game by pushing three runs across in the bottom of the second to make the score 4-4. The hosts then took the lead on a home run by T.J. Humrich in the third and made it 6-4 with another run in the fourth.

Adelphi pitcher Jonathan Gonzalez shut down the Cougars over the next five innings, allowing just one hit after the second inning. With Gregory Sinacori on the mound in relief for the eighth inning, Caldwell began its comeback, loading the bases for sophomore catcher Tom Todaro (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic). Todaro, pictured, delivered with a single that brought home Nyitray to make the score 6-5 Adelphi. Following another pitching change, freshman designated hitter Joe O'Donnell (Belleville, NJ/Belleville) hit a two-out single off Omar Velazquez that scored Mejia and junior outfielder Jorge Ynoa (Bayside, NY/Bayside) to put the Cougars on top, 7-6. The Panthers advanced a runner to third with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but freshman right-hander Gary Gurino-Burns (N. Massapequa, NY/Plainedge) retired the final two batters to clinch the victory for Caldwell.

Nyitray went 3-for-5 with three runs and three RBI, while O'Donnell was 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Sophomore Mark Sarrao (Riverdale, NJ/Pompton Lakes) pitched a scoreless inning of relief to earn the win, while Gurino-Burns recorded his first career save. Freshman right-hander Dan Bartlett (Levittown, NY/Island Trees) started the game and allowed six runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking three in 6 2/3 innings. Sinacori was credited with the loss for Adelphi, which received three hits from Richard McCarren.

Caldwell plays another non-conference game on the road on Wednesday, Mar. 9, when they play C.W. Post University at 3:00 p.m. in Brookville, N.Y.