CALDWELL, N.J. -- Sophomore catcher Akkash Santiago (Toms River, N.J.) blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh, giving the Cougars the lead for good in an 11-8 baseball triumph over Queens at Kiwanis Oval on Thursday afternoon.

Trailing, 8-7, entering their half of the inning, Santiago drilled a one-out pitch deep over the left field wall, putting the Cougars up, 9-8. They would add two insurance runs in the next frame on RBI singles by senior first baseman Liam James (Roseland, N.J.) and senior RF Stephen Young Jr. (Middlesex, N.J.).

Young and Junior shortstop Christian Rinick (Marlton, N.J.) had three hits each, and James and sophomore center fielder Christian Petino Jr. (Flemington, N.J.) joined Santiago with two RBI each. Petino's second inning home run over left field wall had tied the game at 4.

The game was a back-and forth battle, with each team battling back to tie after early deficits. The Cougars went ahead, 7-6, in the sixth on a double sliced down the left field line by Rinick, plating Petino Jr., before Queens (4-6) scored twice in the top of the seventh to regain the lead.

After the Cougars took the lead to make a winner of senior righty Brandon Scalisi (1-0) (New City, N.Y), who got the last two outs of the seventh. Then sophomore righty John Rigas entered in the bottom of the eighth and took care of business, retiring all six Knights he faced for his first save.

The Cougars (3-1) visit Staten Island on Friday at 5:30, then host the Dolphins in a doubleheader on Saturday at 3 p.m.