WATERBURY, Conn.  – The Felician University baseball team remained in contention for the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference title after winning an elimination game in the CACC Championship tournament, 8-4, over Thomas Jefferson University on Thursday night. Earlier on Thursday, Felician lost its first-round game of the four-team, double-elimination event, 11-8, to Wilmington (Del.) University. The tournament is being hosted by Post University at Municipal Stadium.

Junior first baseman Edwin Tavarez (Garfield, N.J./Garfield) homered in each game for Felician (26-21), the No. 2 seed from the CACC North Division. Against Jefferson, Tavarez was 2 for 4 with a double, home run and four runs batted in.

Felician plays another elimination game on Friday at 2 p.m. against the loser of the previous contest pitting Wilmington against Post.

Graduate right-hander Ralph Gambino (Manalapan, N.J./Freehold Township) pitched into the sixth inning for Felician during the elimination game. He was charged with three runs – all during the sixth – on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks. During his five shutout frames, the Golden Falcons built a 6-0 lead. Tavarez hit a two-run homer in the first inning and a two-run double in the fifth. Dauri Genao (West New York, N.J./Memorial) and Levis Aguila (Miramar, Fla./Hialeah Gardens) followed the two-bagger with consecutive RBI singles.

Freshman righty Mike Caldon (Matawan, N.J./Matawan Regional) relieved Gambino in the sixth and finished for his third save. He gave up a run on four hits with four strikeouts in 3 2/3 frames. Genao finished 3 for 4 with two RBI and Aguila was 2 for 4. Chris McLean (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn) and Efrain Santiago (Moca, Puerto Rico/Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy) had two hits apiece for Jefferson, which finishes 26-21.

The Golden Falcons dropped their first-round game to Wilmington despite outhitting the Wildcats, 14-11. Felician erased a 5-3 deficit with two runs in the top of the fifth inning, but Wilmington answered with two in the home half and two more in the sixth to take control. Freshman Mekhi Sanchez (Vineland, N.J./Vineland) (0-1) tossed 3 1/3 innings of relief and was tagged with the loss

Tavarez scored three runs and was among four Golden Falcons with two base hits. With 11 home runs, Tavarez has tied Frank Quintana for the second-best single-season total in Felician history. Quintana also owns the school record of 16 in 2007.

Catcher Jack McDonald (Pompton Lakes, N.J./Pompton Lakes) was 3 for 5 with three RBI for Wilmington (29-10). Wildcat pitcher Ryan Sandberg (Island Park, N.Y./West Hempstead) (9-2) gave up 13 hits but struck out 10 batters and walked none in his 6 2/3 innings.

A victory on Friday would advance Felician to Saturday's championship round at noon in Waterbury, during which they would have to win twice to claim the conference crown.