CC 3, FPU 0
CC 7, SMC 1
CLERMONT, Fla. - The Caldwell College softball team ended its 12-game trip to Florida with a pair of pitching gems in victories over Franklin Pierce University and St. Michael's College on Thursday at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla. Junior Brittany Pulido (Ojai, CA/Nordhoff) blanked Franklin Pierce 3-0 on three hits in the first game, then freshman Kourtney Wilson (Islip, NY/St. Anthony's) held St. Michael's to an unearned run on five hits in a 7-1 win. The Cougars return north with an 8-4 record.
Against Franklin Pierce (3-7), senior Kyrie Timbrook (Los Gatos, CA/Los Gatos) singled home sophomore Kelly Ryan (Woonsocket, RI/Mt. St. Charles Acad.) in the bottom of the first for a 1-0 lead. A double by sophomore Marisa Tamez (Fountain Valley, CA/Fountain Valley) had an RBI double in the fourth, then Ryan led off the fifth with a triple and scored on a single by freshman Dia Cascone (Staten Island, NY/Susan Wagner). Pulido (3-0) made the lead stand, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out six in seven innings. Ryan, Timbrook and Tamez each had two hits in the win.
The Cougars started fast in the second game, scoring three runs on three hits, including an RBI single from Timbrook, and two errors in the top of the first. In the second, Cascone tripled and later scored on a grounder by senior Danielle Genovese (Livingston, NJ/Livingston) for a 4-0 lead. Then in the third, freshman Kelly Schymanski (Pottstown, PA/Owen Roberts) doubled home freshman Sierra Parker (Chino Hill, CA/Chino Hills) and scored on an error for a 6-0 advantage. Freshman Cassandra Cefolo (Florham Park, NJ/Hanover Park) made it 7-0 Cougars with a single that brought home freshman Katie Dellaratta (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) in the fifth.
Wilson (4-1) stymied the Purple Knights (4-4), striking out nine batters against no walks while giving up an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh. The win marked her third straight complete-game victory in Florida. Parker went 2-for-2 with a walk and a run, while Cascone (pictured) also delivered two hits.
Caldwell returns home to host defending East Region champion Le Moyne College on Sunday, Mar. 21. The non-conference doubleheader is scheduled to start at 12:00 p.m. at Caldwell Field.
