BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – Senior pitcher Brittany Pulido (Ojai, CA/Nordhoff) became the program's all-time leader in career wins as the Caldwell College softball team defeated Molloy College, 6-1 in the first round of the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament Friday afternoon at the C.W. Post Softball Complex. The win, which is Pulido's 75th in her career, advances the Cougars to a winner's bracket game against the host Pioneers on Saturday, May 14.

Pulido and Molloy's Megan Butterworth kept the hitters of both teams at bay through three innings, allowing one hit apiece. In the top of the fourth inning, junior Kelly Ryan (Woonsocket, RI/Mt. St. Charles Acad.) led off with a bunt single and stole second. After sophomore Kelly Schymanski (Pottstown, PA/Owen Roberts) walked, sophomore Cassandra Cefolo (Florham Park, NJ/Hanover Park) bunted the runners to second and third. Freshman Nicole Velardi (Belleville, NJ/Belleville) came through with the big hit, roping a single to left that plated both Ryan and Schymanski for a 2-0 lead.

The Lions broke through in the bottom of the fourth with a run on a single from Katie Kraus to cut Caldwell's lead to 2-1. In the top of the fifth, the Cougars advanced runners to second and third with one out. Following a strikeout, a balk was called on the pitcher, allowing junior Rebecca Ashley (Bellingham, MA/Mt. St. Charles Acad.) to score. Schymanski then singled home junior Katie Margiotta (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) for a 4-1 lead. Caldwell kept the two-out rally going, as Schymanski stole second and advanced to third on a single by Cefolo. With freshman Jessica Miller (Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow) pinch-running for Cefolo, the Cougars executed a double-steal that allowed Schymanski to score from third for a 5-1 advantage.

Caldwell added another run in the top of the seventh, as sophomore Dia Cascone (Staten Island, NY/Susan Wagner) blasted a solo home run. Pulido did the rest, holding the defending East Region champions to one run on five hits while walking two and striking out five in seven innings. She is now 19-8 on the season and 75-31 for her career, passing former All-American Corinne Reiser, who went 74-25 from 2001 to 2004.

Velardi, right, finished with two hits for Caldwell (31-23), which had seven different players record hits. Molloy (41-13) was led by Jeana Frey with two infield hits. Butterworth, who was recently named the NFCA National Pitcher of the Week, lasted 3 1/3 innings and absorbed the loss to fall to 22-8 on the season.

Caldwell will face host C.W. Post, which defeated the University of New Haven, 3-2 in the day's first game. The game is set to start at 11:00 a.m. at the C.W. Post Softball Complex in Brookville, N.Y.

2011 NCAA Division II East Region Softball Tournament
Host: C.W. Post, Brookville, N.Y.
Friday, May 13
Game 1: #2 C.W. Post 3, #7 New Haven 2
Game 2: #6 Caldwell 6, #3 Molloy 1

Saturday, May 14
Game 3: #2 C.W. Post (37-14) vs. #6 Caldwell (31-23), 11:00 a.m.
Game 4: #7 New Haven (34-18) vs. #3 Molloy (41-13), 1:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 4 winner vs. Game 3 loser, 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 15
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 1:00 p.m.
Game 7: Repeat Game 6 if necessary, 3:30 p.m.

Host: Dowling College, Brookhaven, N.Y.
Friday, May 13
Game 1: #8 Merrimack 2, #1 Dowling 1
Game 2: #4 S. Conn. State 1, #5 Dominican 0

Saturday, May 14
Game 3: #8 Merrimack (29-20), vs. #4 S. Conn. State (33-19), 11:00 a.m.
Game 4: #1 Dowling (42-6) vs. #5 Dominican (34-17), 1:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 4 winner vs. Game 3 loser, 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 15
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 1 pm
Game 7: Repeat Game 6 if necessary, 3:30 pm