NEWARK, N.J. -- Sophomore 3B Michael Cruz's (Miami) had three hits including a home run, scoring four runs and driving in three, and four other Cougars had two hits apiece, lifting Caldwell Baseball to an 18-4 CACC triumph over Bloomfield at West Side Park.

Senior righthander Nikko Matos (Roselle Park, N.J.) allowed struck out five in four innings of work to pick up the victory.

The Cougars batted around in the second inning, plating 10 runs, highlighted by a two-run single by junior CF Liam Lombardi (Stony Point, N.Y.), two-run double by Cruz, and run-scoring two-baggers by sophomore second baseman Stephen Young Jr. (Middlesex, N.J.) and Junior 1B Liam James (Roseland, N.J.).

Caldwell (8-13, 7-6 CACC) tacked on six more in the third, with home runs by Cruz and senior 1B Oscar Fajardo (Brentwood, N.Y.) keying the inning.

Caldwell notched 16 hits in the contest, shortened to seven innings by the run rule. Young, James, sophomore catcher Christopher Bayo (Miami) and sophomore DH Christian Petino Jr. (Flemington, N.J.) had two hits apiece.

Graduate righty Oliver Hernandez (Passaic, N.J.) pitched the final three innings to earn the save.

The Cougars next visit Pace on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in a non-league contest, then complete the three-game set with Bloomfield with a doubleheader on Saturday at Kiwanis Oval.