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BASEBALL EARNS COMEBACK WIN OVER CHESTNUT HILL, 8-4
4-7-08
box score
PARSIPPANY,
N.J. - The Caldwell College baseball team overcame a 2-1 deficit to
defeat Chestnut Hill College, 8-4 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate
Conference game Monday afternoon at Smith Field. The victory gives
the Cougars an overall record of 15-10 and a 9-3 mark in the
conference, while the Griffins fall to 5-16, 3-5 CACC. Senior
Chris Chiarappa (Elmont, NY/Holy Trinity) drove in three runs
for Caldwell, which swept the season series over conference-newcomer
Chestnut Hill.
After sophomore Ray Keelan (Barnegat, NJ/Southern Regional)
singled home sophomore Adric Saxon (Coral Springs, FL/Taravella)
in the bottom of the first for a 1-0 lead, D.J. Santoro hit a
two-run double in the top of the second to take over the lead, 2-1.
The Griffins held the lead until the bottom of the fifth, when
Chiarappa answered with a double that plated Keelan and sophomore
Omar Velazquez (Astoria, NY/Long Island City) to put Caldwell on
top 3-2.
Saxon, Chiarappa and Velazquez (pictured) each drove in runs in the
bottom of the sixth to extend the lead to 6-2. Chestnut Hill began a
comeback of their own, as Mike Knipe blasted a two-run homer in the
top of the eighth to cut the deficit to 6-4. A pair of singles put
runners on first and second with no out. But sophomore reliever
Buddy Riggs (Coral Springs, FL/Taravella) picked off the runner
at second, then retired the next two batters to end the inning.
Velazquez added a couple of insurance runs in the bottom of the
eighth with a two-run home run, his second of the season.
Freshman Juan Mejia (Ocean City, NJ/St. Augustine Prep)
earned his first career win in his first collegiate start, allowing
11 hits and four runs while striking out eight in seven innings.
Riggs recorded his third save of the season, pitching two scoreless
innings. Nick DeMalto (0-3) gave up three runs on six hits and six
walks in four innings to take the loss.
The Cougars return to action on Tuesday, Apr. 8 with a CACC game
against Philadelphia University. The first pitch is set for 2:00
p.m. at Smith Field.