LANTANA, Fla.- Caldwell University baseball senior Anthony Parente (Jackson, N.J.) went 6-for-8 as the Cougars swept Stonehill College in a non-conference doubleheader to open their 2019 season.
 
The Cougars open the season at 2-0, while the Skyhawks fall to 7-8.
 
In the opener, Caldwell took the early lead on a fielder's choice by junior Jack Zosulis (East Windsor, N.J.) in the second inning. Stonehill took the lead with two runs in their half of the inning.
 
Parente put the Cougars back in front with a two-run double in the fifth. Junior Joseph Mitchell (Bogota, N.J.) added a two-run single to extend their lead to 5-2. Stonehill battled back with one run in the fifth and two runs in the sixth to tie the score at five.
 
Parente drove home the go-ahead run with a single in the top of the seventh, while Zosulis added a two-run double to push the score to 8-5.
 
Junior Michael Hess (Valley Cottage, N.Y.) got the start, tossing 3 2/3 innings, allowing two runs one hit with five strikeouts. Senior Anthony Frascati (Bloomfield, N.J.) earned the win in relief, pitching 2 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits with one strikeout. Freshman Jerry Gamone (Union, N.J.) earned his first collegiate save.
 
In the nightcap, Stonehill got on the board in the opening inning with a run. Caldwell rallied in the bottom of the inning with four runs. Parente drove in a pair of runs with a double. Zosulis and junior Kenneth Matta (Union, N.J.) each added run scoring singles for a 4-1 lead.
 
The teams traded runs in the fifth inning with the Skyhawks plating three runs in the sixth to tie the game at five. The scheduled seven-inning contest headed to extra innings. In the eighth, freshman Kyle Richards (Sayreville, N.J.) blasted a walk-off solo homerun to send Caldwell off to their best start since 2016.
 
Junior Nick Cerbone (Bayonne, N.J.) got the start, going five innings, allowing two runs on two hits with four strikeouts. Gamone tossed 2/3 of an inning, allowing three runs on three hits. Frascati pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, allowing one hit. Freshman Peter Loumakos (Jackson, N.J.) earned his first collegiate win with a scoreless inning.
 
The Cougars continue their Florida road trip as they take on #8 Southern New Hampshire University on Sunday, March 10 at Santaluces Sports Complex.