CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College softball team shut out the University of the Sciences twice, 12-0 and 6-0, in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader Friday afternoon at Caldwell Field. The results allowed Cougar head coach Dean Johnson to surpass the 500-victory plateau for his career. In 17 seasons at Caldwell, Johnson has compiled a record of 501-247-2.
The Cougars, who have won 13 of their last 14 games, are now 18-14 overall and 8-4 in league play, while the Devils fall to 5-19, 3-7 CACC.
The first game was all Caldwell right off the bat, as the Cougars scored six times in the first inning, three times in the third and three more in the fourth while totaling 10 hits. Sophomore Dia Cascone (Staten Island, NY/Susan Wagner), left, led off the game with a home run and went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in. Senior Patti Garofolo (Collegeville, PA/Springford) and freshman Jessica Miller (Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow) both went 2-for-2 with two RBIs, while Garofolo also scored three runs. Senior pitcher Brittany Pulido (Ojai, CA/Nordhoff) blanked the Devils on three hits over four innings, and freshman Lindsay Truan (San Jose, CA/Leland) pitched a scoreless fifth inning in the win. Pulido has won her last seven starts to improve to 11-3 on the season.
In the second game, Caldwell's big inning came in the bottom of the third. The Cougars loaded the bases on three straight singles, then sophomore Cassandra Cefolo (Florham Park, NJ/Hanover Park) walked to force in the first run of the game. Garofolo followed with a two-run single, junior Marisa Tamez (Fountain Valley, CA/Fountain Valley) hit a sacrifice fly that plated junior Rebecca Ashley (Bellingham, MA/Mt. St. Charles), and sophomore Amy Leal (New Bedford, MA/Bishop Stang) doubled home Garofolo for a 5-0 lead. In the fourth, Cascone doubled to score Miller to make the score 6-0.
Sophomore Kourtney Wilson (Islip, NY/St. Anthony) didn't need much run support, as she shut out USciences on six hits in seven innings for her first shutout of the season.
Achieving his 500th win is the latest accomplishment for Johnson, who is a five-time CACC Coach of the Year and the 2010 ECAC Coach of the Year. His teams have won four CACC Tournament titles, captured one NCAA Division II Region crown and advanced to the 2004 Division II Women's College World Series.
The CACC doubleheader scheduled for Saturday, Apr. 16 at Wilmington University has been postponed to Monday, Apr. 18. The first game is set to begin at 3:00 p.m. in New Castle, Del.
