CC 8, NC 2
NC 6, CC 5
CALDWELL, N.J. – The Caldwell College baseball team defeated Nyack College, 8-2 in the first game before losing 6-5 in Game 2 of a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at the Kiwanis Oval. The results give the Cougars a 9-17 record on the season, including a 7-4 mark in league play. The Warriors are now 15-15, 5-5 CACC.

Caldwell took an early 2-0 lead in the first game, as freshman Jack Joyce (Bayside, NY/St. Mary's) and senior Jorge Ynoa (Bayside, NY/Bayside) drove in runs in the second and third innings, respectively. After Nyack scored twice in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 2-2, sophomore Tom Todaro (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) plated junior Anthony Morena (Westbury, NY/Holy Cross) with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth for a 3-2 lead. Then in the seventh, sophomore Paul Nyitray (Cranford, NJ/St. Joseph's) doubled home sophomore Stephen Dodd (Milford, PA/Delaware Valley) and scored on a double by sophomore Joe O'Donnell (Belleville, NJ/Belleville). O'Donnell eventually came home on a single by Ynoa for a 6-2 advantage. Nyitray hit a two-run single in the eighth to make the score 8-2 Caldwell.

Senior right-hander Craig Gourley (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ/Point Pleasant Beach) went the distance, allowing two runs, one earned, on 10 hits while striking out a career-high 12 batters in the win. Ynoa, Dodd, Nyitray and senior Joe Doerrer (Middletown, NJ/Raritan) each had two hits for Caldwell.

In Game 2, Nyack scored a run in the top of the first, then pushed four runs across on five hits in the top of the fourth for a 5-0 lead. The Cougars answered in the bottom of the fourth, as sophomore Stephen Luczaj (N. Merrick, NY/Mepham) hit a two-run single and later scored on a single by sophomore Phil Ragusa (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph by the Sea) to cut the deficit to 5-3. Then with two out in the sixth, Dodd reached on an error and came home on a triple to deep right field by Luczaj. Ragusa followed with a single to score Luczaj and tie the game at 5-5.

With two out and runners on second and third in the top of the ninth, Nyack's TJ Briggs laid down a perfect bunt that allowed Chris Chatman to score the go-ahead run from third. Cole Tobin retired the Cougars in order in the bottom of the ninth to clinch the win.

Ragusa went 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Luczaj and Doerrer delivered two hits apiece. Senior Matt Cook (Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) struck out nine and gave up four hits and one run in 5 2/3 innings of relief.

The Cougars face the University of the Sciences in a single CACC game on Thursday, Apr. 12. The first pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. in Philadelphia, Pa.