PHILADELPHIA, Pa.- The Caldwell University baseball team split a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader against the University of the Sciences. The Cougars rallied back in the opener for a 9-7 game one win and fell in the nightcap 18-4.
 
The Cougars move to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the CACC, while the Devils stand at 1-4 and 1-4 in conference play.
 
In the opener, USciences built a 5-0 lead over the first two innings. Caldwell got on the board in the third as junior Jalen March (Baltimore, Md.) blasted a solo homerun for the first Cougar run of the game.
 
Caldwell added two runs in the fifth inning as junior Frank Lehmann (Colonia, N.J.) drove in a run with a single. The Cougars scored later in the inning as they added a run on a wild pitch. The Devils added a run in their half of the fifth to push the score to 6-3.
 
The Cougars rallied over the final two innings as they scored two runs in the sixth backed by run scoring singles from March and Lehmann to cut the score to 6-5.
 
In the seventh, Caldwell loaded the bases with no outs. Senior Tavis Brunson (Westfield, N.J.) put the Cougars in front with a two-run single. The Cougars tacked on two runs in the inning to extend their lead to 9-6.
 
USciences added a run in the seventh but fell short.
 
Brunson went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, while March went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI.
 
Freshman Andres Rodriguez (Henderson, Nev.) earned the win in relief, tossing two innings, allowing one run on two hits. Senior John Istvan (Dover, N.J.) picked up the save, pitching one inning, allowing one unearned run on two hits.
 
In the nightcap, the Devils jumped out to an early lead with nine runs over the first two innings. Sophomore Elias Negron (Virginia Beach, Va.) stole third in the third inning and scored the first Caldwell run of the game on an error by the catcher.
 
Negron scored on a sacrifice fly in the fourth, while March scored later in the inning on a passed ball. March accounted for the final Caldwell run of the game with a solo homerun in the seventh. Negron finished 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI.
 
The Cougars travel to Felician University for a CACC contest on Tuesday, April 6 at 2 pm.