CALDWELL, N.J. – The Caldwell University baseball team split a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader with Felician College Thursday afternoon at the Kiwanis Oval. The Cougars, who won the first game, 5-3 before losing Game 2, 5-1, are now 11-22 overall and 8-10 in the conference. The Golden Falcons are now 17-25, 10-8 CACC.

The first game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning. Caldwell loaded the bases for freshman Paul Marinello (Freehold, NJ/Colts Neck), who hit a sacrifice fly to score freshman William Levier (Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.). Sophomore Ryan Rivera (Saddle Brook, NJ/St. Joseph) followed with a double to left centerfield, driving home freshmen Charles Grade (Sterling Heights, MI/Sterling Heights) and Justin Jeannette (East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park). The lead didn't last long, as Felician scored three runs in the top of the sixth to tie the score at 3-3.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Cougars put two runners on base with a double by sophomore Michael Bernstein (Staten Island, NY/Susan Wagner) and an error. With two out, freshman Noah Clark (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) laced a double down the left field line to bring home both runners for a 5-3 lead. Senior Michael Sheridan (Caldwell, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) pitched the final three innings and blanked the Golden Falcons on one hit to earn the victory.

Senior pitcher Robert Humes (Berlin, NJ/Winslow Twp.) started and allowed three runs on six hits in six innings. Bernstein and Levier led the offense with two hits apiece.

In Game 2, Felician scored runs in the first, second and fifth innings to take a 3-0 lead. After managing just two hits over the first five innings, the Cougars broke through in the sixth with an RBI single by senior Anthony Caruso (N. Babylon, NY/N. Babylon) that plated Rivera to make the score 3-1. But the Golden Falcons scored two unearned runs in the seventh for a 5-1 advantage.

Caruso had two of Caldwell's four hits off of Felician pitcher John Holland, who struck out eight in eight innings for the win. Senior pitcher Eric Bomenblit (Allenwood, NJ/Wall) allowed three runs on seven hits while fanning three and walking three in 4 2/3 innings. Senior Lucas Willenbrock (Amityville, NY/Amityville Memorial) tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.

The Cougars will play Dominican College in a non-conference game to close out the home schedule. The game, which is the final regular-season home game for eight seniors, will start at 6:00 p.m. at the Kiwanis Oval.