BOCA RATON, Fla.- The Caldwell University baseball team rapped out 11 hits and scored 12 runs in a 12-9 win over Southern Connecticut State University to open their Florida spring trip.
 
The Cougars improve to 3-2, while the Owls fall at 8-3.
 
Caldwell jumped out to an early lead with eight runs over the first two innings. Senior Kyle Richards (Sayreville, N.J.) singled in a run in the first to put the Cougars in front 1-0. Freshman Christian Petino Jr. (Flemington, N.J.) plated two runs with a two-run single to extend the score to 3-0.
 
The Cougars tacked on five in the second with Richards doubling in a run, while junior Zach Saunders (Adelphi, Md.) singled in two runs. Freshman Malik Little (Bergenfield, N.J.) lifted a sacrifice fly to push the score to 8-0.
 
The Owls rallied with six runs in the second but junior Noah Putney (Glassboro, N.J.) answered with a sacrifice fly in the third. Southern Connecticut pulled even 9-9 with two runs in the third and one in the fourth to even the score.
 
Little broke the tie in the ninth with a two-run single, while Petino scored later in the inning on a wild pitch.
 
The Cougars continue their Florida trip as they take on Alliance University in a non-conference game on Sunday, March 12 at 5 pm.