CLERMONT, Fla. - The Caldwell College softball team concluded its trip to Florida with losses to regional foes Bentley University and Southern Connecticut State on Thursday at the National Training Complex. The Cougars head north with an overall record of 2-10.
The only run in the day's first game came in the top of the fourth inning, when Bentley's Meghan Carter scored from second base on a single by Tara Fogarty. The Cougars advanced a runner to second base in each of the final four innings, and had a runner at third with one out in the bottom of the seventh. But Fogarty kept Caldwell off the scoreboard and retired the final two batters to end the game. Fogarty blanked the Cougars on four hits while striking out three. Sophomore Kourtney Wilson (Islip, NY/St. Anthony) also went the distance, giving up just three hits while fanning six and walking one.
In the second game, Caldwell ended the scoreless streak in the top of the first on a single by sophomore Cassandra Cefolo (Florham Park, NJ/Hanover Park) that plated junior Katie Margiotta (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) from second for a 1-0 lead. Southern Connecticut pushed three runs across in the bottom of the second, including a two-run double by Alyssa Pagano, to take a 3-1 advantage. In the top of the third, sophomore Amy Leal (New Bedford, MA/Bishop Stang) hit a solo home run to make the score 3-2 Owls. Then in the fourth, junior Kelly Ryan (Woonsocket, RI/Mt. St. Charles Acad.) singled to score senior Patti Garofolo (Collegeville, PA/Springford) to tie the game at 3-3.
In the bottom of the fifth, SCSU regained the upper hand with three runs for a 6-3 advantage. Another RBI single by Ryan in the sixth made it 6-4 heading into the final inning. With two out and a runner on first, the Cougars strung together three singles, culminating in a two-run single by Marisa Tamez (Fountain Valley, CA/Fountain Valley), that tied the game at 6-6. In the bottom of the seventh, the Owls advanced Alyssa Downs to third on a two-base error and a sacrifice bunt. Downs headed for home when the next batter, Jessica Rosa, hit a grounder to the shortstop. The throw home appeared to beat the runner, but Downs was called safe with the game-winning run.
Garofolo, Tamez (pictured), Ryan and freshman Mariah Lucena (Belleville, NJ/Belleville) each had two hits for the Cougars. Junior Juliette Wilson (Dallas, OR/West Salem) took the loss despite pitching two innings without surrendering a hit. Jayme Larson went the distance for SCSU, allowing six runs on 12 hits.
Caldwell opens its home schedule on Sunday, Mar. 20 with a non-conference doubleheader with Le Moyne College. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at Caldwell Field.
