CC 3, DC 0
DC 5, CC 4 (12 inn.)
ORANGEBURG, N.Y. - The Caldwell College softball team defeated Dominican College 3-0 in the first game, then lost in 12 innings, 5-4 in the second game of a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader Thursday afternoon at the DC Softball Field. The games marked the start of the CACC schedule for the Cougars, who are 10-6 overall and 1-1 in the CACC. The Chargers are now 9-7, 2-2 CACC.
Caldwell scored all three of its runs in Game 1 in the top of the first inning, benefitting from two Chargers' errors. Senior Kyrie Timbrook (Los Gatos, CA/Los Gatos) singled home sophomore Kelly Ryan (Woonsocket, RI/Mt. St. Charles Acad.) and later scored on a grounder by sophomore Katie Margiotta (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.). Freshman Kourtney Wilson (Islip, NY/St. Anthony's) also had an RBI in the inning.
Junior pitcher Brittany Pulido (Ojai, CA/Nordhoff) did the rest, scattering five hits while walking two and striking out two in seven innings for her third shutout of the season. Dominican's Katrina Pistilli allowed six hits and three unearned runs in a complete-game effort.
In the second game, the Cougars took the lead in the second inning when Timbrook came home on an error. Sophomore Marisa Tamez (Fountain Valley, CA/Fountain Valley) led off the top of the fourth with a home run, her first of the season, to make the score 2-0 Caldwell. The lead held into the bottom of the seventh, when Dominican loaded the bases with no outs on a walk, an error and a single. Pulido relieved Wilson, who started the game, and induced a grounder that allowed the Cougars to get the force at home. But Ashley Corrao followed with a two-run hit that tied the game at 2-2. Ashley Martinez tried to score from first on the play but was thrown out at the plate by freshman Dia Cascone (Staten Island, NY/Susan Wagner). Pulido retired the next batter on a groundout to end the threat and force extra innings.
Neither teams scored over the next three innings despite using the international tie-breaker rule starting in the ninth inning. In the top of the 11th, senior Brittni Frantellizzi (Binghamton, NY/Susquehanna Valley) singled home Tamez to put Caldwell ahead 3-2. The Chargers answered in the bottom of the 11th, when Jessica Syska scored on a sacrifice fly by Julie Plante. Cascone restored the Cougars' one-run lead with a single that plated freshman Amy Leal (New Bedford, MA/Bishop Stang) in the top of the 12th. Again Dominican responded with a run-scoring single by Nicole Scarillo to tie the game at 4-4. After Deidre Jeppson reached on a fielder's choice and stole second, Martinez doubled to centerfield, scoring Jeppson with the game-winning run.
Pulido (5-1) gave up three runs, one earned, on three hits in 5 2/3 innings of relief. Wilson pitched six innings and allowed four hits and two runs, one earned. Tamez, pictured, went 4-for-5 with a home run, an RBI and two runs scored to pace the Cougar offense. Delaney Childers (4-4) went the distance for Dominican, surrendering 11 hits and four runs, one earned, while walking one and fanning eight in 12 innings for the win.
Caldwell hosts Goldey-Beacom College in a CACC doubleheader on Saturday, Mar. 27. The first game is set to start at 1:00 p.m.
