CC 8, PU 0 (5 inn.)
CC 4, PU 2
CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College softball team earned its third consecutive sweep of a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader on Tuesday, defeating Post University 8-0 in five innings and 4-2 at Caldwell Field. The victories give the Cougars (31-11 overall, 17-3 CACC) their eighth straight 30-win season dating back to the 2003 campaign. The Eagles are now 14-24 overall and 12-11 in conference play after the two losses.
Caldwell opened the first game with two runs in the bottom of the first inning on a run-scoring single by freshman Dia Cascone (Staten Island, NY/Susan Wagner) and a sacrifice fly from sophomore Marisa Tamez (Fountain Valley, CA/Fountain Valley). Sophomore Kelly Ryan (Woonsocket, RI/Mt. St. Charles Acad.) and senior Danielle Genovese (Livingston, NJ/Livingston) drove in runs to spark a three-run second inning for a 5-0 Cougar lead. In the bottom of the fourth, Cascone hit a two-run double that plated Ryan (pictured) and freshman Amy Leal (New Bedford, MA/Bishop Stang), then scored on an error to put Caldwell ahead 8-0.
Junior pitcher Brittany Pulido (Ojai, CA/Nordhoff) kept the Eagles off balance, allowing just one hit in four innings to improve to 16-3 on the season. Sophomore Juliette Wilson (Dallas, OR/West Salem) pitched a scoreless inning of relief to close out the win. Post's Lindsey Heisler gave up seven hits and eight runs, five earned, in four innings to take the loss.
In Game 2, junior Patti Garofolo (Collegeville, PA/Springford) gave Caldwell an early lead with a two-out single in the second inning that scored Tamez from second base. Post answered with two runs in the top of the third on a solo home run by Cassidie Ern and an RBI single from Tierney Marceau for a 2-1 lead. In the bottom of the third, Genovese hit a two-out single, then scored on a double to right centerfield by senior Kyrie Timbrook (Los Gatos, CA/Los Gatos) that tied the game at 2-2. The score remained locked until the bottom of the fifth, when the Cougars put runners at second and third on a single and an error. A wild pitch allowed both runners to come around and score to put Caldwell on top 4-2.
Freshman Kourtney Wilson (Islip, NY/St. Anthony's), who started and pitched six innings, retired the side in order in the top of the sixth, then Pulido came on in the seventh and earned the save with a groundout and two strikeouts. Wilson gave up two runs on six hits while striking out two to improve to 12-5. Stephanie Carrillo went the distance for Post, allowing four runs, two earned, on seven hits.
The Cougars return to action on Thursday, Apr. 22 with a CACC doubleheader at home against Bloomfield College, beginning at 3:00 p.m. at Caldwell Field.
