LAKE WORTH, Fla.- The Caldwell University baseball team rallied in the ninth inning with two runs as they improved to 2-0 on their Florida trip with a 6-4 win over Alliance University in a non-conference contest.
 
The Cougars improve to 4-2, while Alliance fall to 1-13.
 
Caldwell took an early lead as graduate Wandy Arias (Plainfield, N.J.) doubled to lead off the game. Arias stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Noah Putney (Glassboro, N.J.). The Cougars added a run in the second as freshman Christopher Bayo (Miami, Fla.) led off with a double. Bayo advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by freshman Joshua Lopez (Nanuet, N.Y.).
 
Alliance rallied back in the seventh as they scored twice to even the game at 2-2.
 
The Cougars retook the lead in the eighth as sophomore Ryan Opak (Douglaston, N.Y.) drew a leadoff walk. Opak stole second and scored on an Arias run scoring single. Arias came around to score later in the inning on an Alliance error to extend the lead to 4-2.
 
Alliance battled back with a pair of runs in their half of the eighth to pull at 4-4.
 
Caldwell got two runs in the ninth as Lopez hit a sacrifice fly, while Opak scored on a wild pitch to put the Cougars ahead 6-4.
 
Freshman John Rigas (Lincoln Park, N.J.) retired all three batters in the ninth on strikeouts to close out Alliance and earn the save.
 
Junior Nikko Matos (Roselle Park, N.J.) tossed one inning, allowing two runs on three hits with two strikeouts to earn the win.
 
The Cougars continue their Florida trip as they take on St. Cloud State University in a non-conference game on Monday, March 13 at 5 pm.