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WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The Caldwell College softball team dropped its first game at the NCAA East Region Tournament, falling to fourth-seeded Southern Connecticut State 1-0 in eight innings Friday afternoon at the University of New Haven Softball Field. The loss gives the fifth-seeded Cougars a 42-15 overall record and sends them into an elimination game against Georgian Court University on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The Owls (41-11) will play top-seeded New Haven at 11:00 a.m.

Southern Connecticut put runners on first and second in both the second and fifth innings but did not score. Then in the top of the sixth, the Cougars loaded the bases on a bunt single by sophomore Kelly Ryan (Woonsocket, RI/Mt. St. Charles Acad.), a hit batsman and a walk. With one out, SCSU pitcher Jayme Larson recorded two groundouts to end the threat and keep the game scoreless. The Owls had runners at second and third with two out in the bottom of the seventh, but junior pitcher Brittany Pulido (Ojai, CA/Nordhoff) induced a grounder to send the game into extra innings.

After Larson retired the Cougars in order in the top of the eighth, Brittany Bucko led off the bottom of the eighth with a fly ball to right that was dropped, then stole second. Following a foul out, Megan Caporossi stepped up and lined a single to center. Bucko just beat Ryan's throw home for the game-winning run.

Pulido (20-7) scattered six hits while striking out one and walking one in 7 1/3 innings of work. Larson gave up four hits and struck out three while walking one in a complete-game shutout.

Caldwell continues play at the NCAA Division II East Regional on Saturday, May 15 with an elimination game against Georgian Court, beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the UNH Softball Field.



2010 NCAA Division II East Region Softball Tournament
Host: Univ. of New Haven, West Haven, Conn.
Friday, May 14
Game 1: #1 New Haven 8, #8 Georgian Court 0 (6 inn.)
Game 2: #4 S. Conn. State 1, #5 Caldwell 0 (8 inn.)

Saturday, May 15
Game 3: #1 New Haven vs. #4 S. Conn. State, 11:00 a.m.
Game 4: #8 Georgian Court vs. #5 Caldwell, 1:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 4 winner vs. Game 3 loser, 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 16
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 3:00 p.m.
Game 7: Repeat Game 6 if necessary, 5:30 p.m.

Host: Dowling College, Brookhaven, N.Y.
Friday, May 14
Game 1: #6 Molloy 15, #3 C.W. Post 1 (5 inn.)
Game 2: #2 Dowling 6, #7 Dominican 2

Saturday, May 15
Game 3: #6 Molloy vs. #2 Dowling, 11:00 a.m.
Game 4: #3 C.W. Post vs. #7 Dominican, 1:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 4 winner vs. Game 3 loser, 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 16
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBA
Game 7: Repeat Game 6 if necessary, TBA