LAKEWOOD, N.J. - The Caldwell College softball team fell to top-seeded Dominican College, 7-2 at the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Softball Tournament Friday afternoon at Georgian Court University. The loss is the first in the double-elimination tournament for the Cougars (42-13), who will play an elimination game against Georgian Court on Saturday. The Chargers improve to 36-13 on the season and remain unbeaten in the tournament.

In the top of the first inning, Caldwell loaded the bases on an error, a hit batsman and a walk. With two outs, junior Patti Garofolo (Collegeville, PA/Springford) singled to centerfield to plate senior Danielle Genovese (Livingston, NJ/Livingston) for a 1-0 lead. Dominican answered in the bottom of the first with a two-run double by Nicole Scarillo to put the Chargers ahead 2-1. In the top of the third, the Cougars loaded the bases again on three singles. With one out, freshman Sierra Parker (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills) was hit by a pitch, bringing home Genovese with the tying run. But Caldwell couldn't capitalize, as the next batter hit into a double play to end the threat.

Scarillo put Dominican ahead 3-2 with a two-out single in the bottom of the third inning. Then in the fifth, the Chargers scored four runs on four hits and an error to take a commanding 7-2 lead. Ashley Corrao, Deidre Jeppson and Jessica Martinieri drove in runs in the inning. Caldwell left 13 runners on base and committed two errors in the loss, which is the Cougars' first defeat in eight games. Genovese went 3-for-3 with two runs, while Garofolo, pictured, had three hits and drove in a run in four at-bats.

Junior Brittany Pulido (Ojai, CA/Nordhoff) took the loss after allowing seven runs, six earned, on eight hits while walking two in four innings of work. Delaney Childers came on in relief and did not give up a run on six hits in 4 2/3 innings for the victory.

Caldwell will play the host Lions in the elimination game on Saturday, May 8, beginning at 11:00 a.m. The winner plays Dominican at 1:00 p.m., with a third game to be played at 3:00 p.m. if necessary.

2010 CACC Softball Tournament, hosted by Georgian Court - May 6-8, Lakewood, N.J.
Thursday, May 6
Game 1: #1 Dominican 6, #8 USP 1
Game 2: #4 Holy Family 3, #5 Philadelphia 2 (11 inn.)
Game 3: #2 Caldwell 8, #7 Post 0 (5 inn.)
Game 4: #6 Concordia 5, #3 Georgian Court 4
Game 5: #1 Dominican 4, #4 Holy Family 3
Game 6: #2 Caldwell 4, #6 Concordia 0
Game 7: #8 USP 7, #5 Philadelphia 2 (Philadelphia eliminated)
Game 8: #3 Georgian Court 17, #7 Post 9 (6 inn.) (Post eliminated)

Friday, May 7
Game 9: #6 Concordia 4, #8 USP 2 (9 inn.)
Game 10: #3 Georgian Court 6, #4 Holy Family 2
Game 11: #1 Dominican 7, #2 Caldwell 2
Game 12: #3 Georgian Court 2, #6 Concordia 0

Saturday, May 8
Game 13: #3 Georgian Court (36-16)  vs. #2 Caldwell (42-13), 11:00 a.m.
Game 14: #1 Dominican (36-13) vs. Game 13 winner, 1:00 p.m.
Game 15: Repeat Game 14 if necessary