CALDWELL, N.J. – Junior right-handed pitcher John Holland (Jackson, N.J.) yielded just an unearned run on four hits in eight innings to lead Felician College to a 5-1 Game 2 victory and a split of its Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference baseball doubleheader with host Caldwell University on Thursday afternoon at the Kiwanis Oval. Caldwell captured the day's opening game, 5-3.

Sophomore first-baseman Brennan Price (Middlesex, N.J.) had two hits in each game for Felician (17-25, 10-8 CACC).

With their Game 2 win, the Golden Falcons solidified their hold on sixth place in the CACC, two games ahead of Caldwell. The top six teams in the 11-school league at season's end will earn a berth in the conference playoffs. Felician would qualify with at least one victory in a doubleheader at the University of the Sciences on Saturday, and could rise as high as the No. 4 seed with a sweep.

Felician took an early lead in Thursday's nightcap with single runs in each of the first two innings. Freshman Bruce Strickland (Hazlet, N.J.) lofted a sacrifice fly to center field in the top of the first, and sophomore Matt Kleinstein (Marlboro, N.J.) came up with a run-scoring single in the second.

Holland (5-5) was solid throughout, giving up no extra-base hits, and only twice allowing multiple baserunners in an inning. He struck out eight batters and walked three. The only blemish on his line came in the sixth inning, when, with Felician leading, 3-0, Caldwell's Ryan Rivera (Saddle Brook, N.J.) reached second base on a Golden Falcon error, stole third, and scored on a single by Anthony Caruso (North Babylon, N.Y.)

Felician leadoff man Branden Shaw (Cooper City, Fla.) went 3 for 5, stole two bases, and scored twice. Price was 2 for 3 plus a sacrifice fly, and Strickland drove in two runs for the Golden Falcons. Freshman righty Danny Naif (Jackson, N.J.) pitched a perfect ninth inning for the Golden Falcons with two strikeouts.

Caldwell (11-22, 8-10) broke a 3-3 tie with two unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 1. With two outs, the inning was extended on a mishandled throw by Felician, putting runners on the corners. Cougar freshman Noah Clark (Toms River, N.J.) lined a double down the left field foul line, bringing home Kevin Goldman (Valley Stream, N.Y.) and Michael Bernstein (Staten Island, N.Y.) and giving the hosts the lead for good.

Caldwell reliever Michael Sheridan (Caldwell, N.J.) (2-4) made the late rally stand up, pitching the final three scoreless innings. He gave up one hit and struck out three batters. Felician lefty Jack Fowler (Shrewsbury, N.J.) (2-6) fought through 6 2/3 innings. Just two of the runs Fowler allowed were earned. He surrendered seven hits and a season-high five walks while fanning 10 batters.

Felician had recovered from a 3-0 deficit to knot the score with three runs in the sixth. After consecutive hit batsmen, Price singled up the middle to put the Golden Falcons on the scoreboard, and Rob Fisher (Matawan, N.J.) capped the rally with a two-run single.

Price and Fisher were each 2 for 4 for Felician. Caldwell's Bernstein and William Levier (Monroe Township, N.J.) also picked up two hits apiece.