LAKEWOOD, N.J. - The Caldwell College softball team defeated Wilmington University, 2-0 and lost to host Georgian Court University, 4-3 on the first day of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Softball Tournament Thursday afternoon at the GCU Softball Complex. The results advance the Cougars to the second day of the tournament, where they will play Post University in an elimination game.
In the game against Wilmington, Caldwell took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a run-scoring double by freshman Mariah Lucena (Belleville, NJ/Belleville) that plated sophomore Kelly Schymanski (Pottstown, PA/Owen Roberts). Then in the third, junior Kelly Ryan (Woonsocket, RI/Mt. St. Charles Acad.) led off with a double, moved to third on a bunt by Schymanski and scored on an error for a 2-0 lead.
Senior pitcher Brittany Pulido (Ojai, CA/Nordhoff), right, did the rest, tossing a three-hit shutout while walking two and striking out three to improve to 17-7 on the season. She now has 73 victories in her career, one shy of the school record of 74, set by former All-American Corinne Reiser. Senior Patti Garofolo (Collegeville, PA/Springford) went 2-for-2 at the plate for the Cougars. Wilmington's Katie Warrington, the 2011 CACC Pitcher of the Year, took the loss, allowing two runs, one earned, on eight hits.
Against Georgian Court, the Cougars again scored in the first inning. Sophomore Dia Cascone (Staten Island, NY/Susan Wagner) led off the game with a double, moved to third on a bunt by Ryan and scored on a sacrifice fly from Schymanski for a 1-0 lead. A two-run double from Melissa DePalma in the bottom of the fourth inning put the Lions on top 2-1. Caldwell tied the game at 2-2 on an RBI single from Garofolo in the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the fifth, Georgian Court scored two more runs to pull ahead 4-2. Cascone, left, led off the top of the sixth with a solo home run to make it a one-run game. But Lions' pitcher Diana Sansevera retired the final six batters to wrap up the win for Georgian Court.
Junior pitcher Juliette Wilson (Dallas, OR/West Salem) started and gave up four runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings to take the loss. Shannon Dukes allowed two runs on three hits in five innings to earn the victory.
Caldwell takes on Post on Friday, May 6 at 12:00 p.m. in an elimination game on Day 2 of the CACC Tournament.
2011 CACC Softball Tournament, hosted by Georgian Court - May 5-7, Lakewood, N.J.
Thursday, May 5
Game 1: #1 Georgian Court 8, #8 Felician 3
Game 2: #7 Bloomfield 8, #2 Concordia 5
Game 3: #3 Dominican 4, #6 Post 0
Game 4: #5 Caldwell 2, #4 Wilmington 0
Game 5: #4 Wilmington 7, #8 Felician 5
Game 6: #6 Post 6, #2 Concordia 1
Game 7: #1 Georgian Court 4, #5 Caldwell 3
Game 8: #3 Dominican 6, #7 Bloomfield 3
Friday, May 6
Game 9: #4 Wilmington vs. #7 Bloomfield, 12:00 p.m.
Game 10: #6 Post vs. #5 Caldwell, 12:00 p.m.
Game 11: #1 Georgian Court vs. #3 Dominican, 2:00 p.m.
Game 12: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 7
Game 13: Game 12 winner vs. Game 11 loser, 11:00 a.m.
Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 1:00 p.m.
Game 15: Repeat Game 14 if necessary, 3:00 p.m.
