LYNDHURST, N.J.- The Caldwell University baseball came up short in their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference opener to Felician University. The Cougars fell 6-5 in extra innings in the opener and lost the nightcap 15-4.
 
The Cougars fall to 0-11 overall and 0-2 in the CACC, while the Golden Falcons improve to 4-14 and 2-0 in conference play.
 
Caldwell struck first in the opening inning as senior Rob DeSanti (Barnegat, N.J.) was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch. Sophomore Jack Zosulis (East Windsor, N.J.) singled in DeSanti to put the Cougars in the lead. Felician took the lead in the second inning with a pair of runs.
 
The Cougars loaded the bases in the sixth inning as junior Mason Marino (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and senior William Levier (Monroe Township, N.J.) were hit by a pitch, while junior Quintin Quartararo (Lakewood, N.J.) drew a walk. Senior Paul Marinello (Freehold, N.J.) singled to tie the game at two. The Golden Falcons answered in their half of the sixth to retake a one-run lead.
 
In the seventh, seniors Justin Jeannette (East Hanover, N.J.) and Kevin Goldman (Valley Stream, N.Y.) drew two-out walks. Marino ripped a double to drive in Jeannette as Caldwell pulled even at three. Caldwell took the lead in the eighth as Marinello walked and advanced to third on an error. He scored on a double-play groundout.
 
Felician plated a pair of runs in the eighth inning to push ahead 5-4. Caldwell rallied in the top of the ninth as Jeannette and Marino walked to start the inning. They moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt with Jeannette scoring on a groundout by Quartararo. The game headed for extra innings as Felician got three hits in the bottom of the tenth as they scored the winning run to take the opener.
 
Senior Daniel Gregor (Monroe, N.J.) tossed 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits with seven strikeouts. Freshman Robert Brust (Shirley, N.Y.) took the loss in relief as he pitched three innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits and struck out four.
 
In the nightcap, Felician got on the board in the opening inning with three runs. Caldwell rallied with a pair of runs in the second inning as Jeannette walked and moved to third on a pair of wild pitches. Sophomore Chris Herrera (Passaic, N.J.) singled to drive in Jeannette and Herrera eventually scored on a wild pitch.
 
The Golden Falcons extended their lead to 15-2 after seven innings of play. The Cougars tacked on a pair of runs in the eighth as they loaded the bases. Caldwell got one run on a wild pitch and Goldman drove in a run later in the inning.
 
Sophomore Jack Anderson (Nyack, N.Y.) took the loss as he tossed 2/3 of an inning, allowing three runs on three hits.
 
The Cougars travel to Goldey-Beacom College on Monday, March 26 for a CACC doubleheader at noon.