LANTANA, Fla.- The Caldwell University baseball team dropped their first game of the young season as they fell to St. Thomas Aquinas College 20-3 in a non-conference game. The Cougars fall to 2-1 on the season, while the Spartans improve to 6-3 in 2016.

The Spartans struck first as they took a 1-0 lead with a run in the third innings. Caldwell answered in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of runs. Senior Mike LaTorraca (West Caldwell, NJ) got things going with a two-out double. Sophomore William Levier (Monroe Township, NJ) reached on an infield single and moved to second on an errant throw by the shortstop which scored LaTorraca. Junior Ryan Rivera (Saddle Brook, NJ) put the Cougars in the lead with a single to drive in Levier for a 2-1 Caldwell lead.

St. Thomas Aquinas scored in five of the final six innings to take a control of the game. Caldwell tacked on a late run in the eighth on wild pitch.

Rivers went 2-for-4 for the Cougars with a double, while LaTorraca and sophomore Paul Marinello (Freehold, NJ) also posted doubles. Sophomore Joshua Caba (Belleville, NJ) got the start, tossing four innings, allowing six runs (two earned) on seven hits and struck out five.

Caldwell continues their Florida trip as they take on Southern New Hampshire University on Sunday, March 13 at the Santaluces Sports Complex in Lantana, FL. The doubleheader is scheduled for a 2 pm first pitch.