CALDWELL, N.J.- Caldwell University baseball junior
Noah Putney (Glassboro, N.J.) homered in each game as the Cougars split a non-conference doubleheader against the College of Staten Island. The Dolphins rallied from an early deficit to win the opener 9-8 in 11 innings, while the Cougars won the nightcap 10-0.
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The Cougars move to 2-2, while the Dolphins stand at 3-8.
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In the opener, Caldwell jumped out to an 8-0 lead over the first four innings. Sophomore
Liam Lombardi (Stony Point, N.Y.) and freshman
Christian Petino Jr. (Flemington, N.J.) singled home runs in the first inning for a 2-0 lead.
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Putney drove in a run with a single in the second inning, while senior
Kyle Richards (Sayreville, N.J.) added a run scoring single in the inning. Putney blasted a three-run homerun in the fourth as the Cougars pulled ahead 8-0.
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The Dolphins rallied over the final three innings, tying the game at eight to force extra innings. The game remained tied until the Staten Island pushed across the go-ahead run in the 11th inning.
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In the nightcap, Caldwell got on the board in the opening inning as Putney connected on his second homerun of the day, blasting a two-run shot for a 2-0 lead. Freshman
Christopher Bayo (Miami, Fla.) ripped a two-run single in the third, while Petino added a two-run homerun in the inning for a 6-0 lead.
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Petino added to the Cougar lead in the sixth as he connected on a two-run double, while freshman
Stephen Young Jr. (Middlesex, N.J.) drove in two runs with a double. Sophomore
Ryan Opak (Douglaston, N.Y.) capped the scoring with a run scoring single in the sixth.
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Petino went 5-for-9 in the twin bill, including 3-for-3 in the nightcap, with four RBI and two runs scored. Putney went 5-for-10 over the two games with six RBI, three runs scored and two homeruns.
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Junior
Zach Saunders (Adelphi, Md.) went 4-for-5 in the opening with a double and one RBI, while Richards posted two doubles in the opening game.
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The Cougars head to Florida for nine games in the Sunshine State starting on Saturday, March 11 against Southern Connecticut State University at 4 pm.
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