LAKEWOOD, N.J. - The Caldwell College softball team lost an elimination game to Georgian Court University, 4-2 at the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Saturday afternoon at the GCU Softball Complex. The defeat ends the Cougars' run at the tournament and gives them a 30-23 record on the season.
The Lions (31-24) broke a scoreless tie with an unearned run in the bottom of the third inning for a 1-0 lead. In the top of the fourth, sophomore Dia Cascone (Staten Island, NY/Susan Wagner) led off with a double, advanced to third on a bunt by junior Kelly Ryan (Woonsocket, RI/Mt. St. Charles Acad.) and came home when sophomore Kelly Schymanski (Pottstown, PA/Owen Roberts) singled to tie the game at 1-1. The tie did not last long, as Rachel Ruch led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run for a 2-1 Georgian Court advantage. Caldwell answered in the top of the sixth, as junior Marisa Tamez (Fountain Valley, CA/Fountain Valley) singled home Schymanski to tie the score at 2-2.
With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Ruch hit her second solo home run of the game for a 3-2 lead. After a groundout, Brooke Hull homered to put the Lions on top 4-2. Caldwell loaded the bases in the top of the seventh on a single by junior Katie Margiotta (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.), and error and a walk. With two outs, Lions' pitcher Diana Sansevera induced a groundout to end the threat and the game.
Senior pitcher Brittany Pulido (Ojai, CA/Nordhoff) pitched a complete game, allowing four runs, three earned, on four hits while striking out three to drop to 18-8 on the season. Schymanski, pictured, and Margiotta each had two hits in the game for Caldwell. Ryan and senior Patti Garofolo (Collegeville, PA/Springford) were named to the All-Tournament Team. Sansevera also went the distance for Georgian Court, giving up two runs on seven hits. Ruch finished 3-for-3 with a double and two home runs.
Dominican College won the championship, defeating Georgian Court 7-4 in the final. The Lady Chargers receive the automatic bid to the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament, while the Cougars and Lions await to hear if they will receive an at-large bid to the regional. Caldwell was ranked sixth in last week's regional rankings, while Georgian Court was ranked ninth.
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 1, #7 Bloomfield 0
Game 10: #5 Caldwell 5, #6 Post 4
Game 11: #3 Dominican 6, #1 Georgian Court 2
Game 12: #5 Caldwell 7, #4 Wilmington 2
Saturday, May 7
Game 13: #1 Georgian Court 4, #5 Caldwell 2
Game 14: #3 Dominican 7, Georgian Court 4
All-Tournament Team
Delaney Childers, Dominican – MVP
Deidre Jeppson, Dominican
Ashley Martinez, Dominican
Julie Plante, Dominican
Paige Berzak, Dominican
Diana Sansevera, Georgian Court
Rachel Ruch, Georgian Court
Brooke Hull, Georgian Court
Kelly Ryan, Caldwell
Patti Garofolo, Caldwell
Heather Karasek, Wilmington
Lauren Szymanski, Wilmington
Jaime Lorenzo, Concordia
Amber Doran, Felician
Kira Wagar, Bloomfield
Ashley Cummings, Post
