LAKE WORTH, Fla.- The Caldwell University baseball team rallied back to defeat American International College 7-5 in a non-conference clash.
 
The Cougars improve to 5-3 overall while the Yellow Jackets fall to 4-5.
 
American International got on the board with a pair of runs in the first inning. Caldwell got a run back in the second as freshman Stephen Young Jr. (Middlesex, N.J.) singled in a run to cut the score to 2-1. The Yellow Jackets answered with a run in the fourth to extend their lead to 3-1.
 
The Cougars rallied back with two runs in the fourth inning. Freshman Michael Cruz (Miami, Fla.) singled in a run, while Young tied the game with a sacrifice fly. Junior Noah Putney (Glassboro, N.J.) gave Caldwell a one-run lead with an RBI double in the fifth while Young drove in his third run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
 
American International got a run back in the seventh to cut the score to 5-4. Caldwell took advantage of a pair of Yellow Jacket errors in their half of the seven to push across two runs. The Yellow Jackets got their final run in the eighth but the Cougars held on for the win.
 
Freshman John Rigas (Lincoln Park, N.J.) tossed five innings, allowing three runs on five hits with four strikeouts to improve to 2-0 on the season. Senior Connor Woods (Bethlehem, Pa.) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and struck out one to earn his first save of the season.
 
The Cougars continue their Florida trip as they take on Bentley University in a non-conference game on Wednesday, March 15 at noon.