KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Caldwell College softball team picked up two more wins at the Rebel Spring Games, defeating Slippery Rock University, 11-1 and Tiffin University, 9-1, both in five innings. The victories give the Cougars a 6-1 record on the season.
In the first game, Slippery Rock scored a run in the bottom of the first to take an early lead. Caldwell responded in the third inning with four runs on four hits and an error for a 4-1 advantage. Freshman Briana Gaspich (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) hit a two-run single, and senior Marisa Tamez (Fountain Hills, CA/Fountain Hills) singled home a run in the inning. Then in the fourth, Gaspich, Tamez and freshman Megan Fryday (San Marcos, CA/Mission Hills) each drove in runs to put the Cougars on top, 7-1. Caldwell closed out the game in the fifth with four runs, including three on a bases-loaded double by Gaspich, who had three hits and six RBI.
Junior Kourtney Wilson (Islip, NY/St. Anthony's) pitched all five innings, allowing one run on seven hits while striking out four and walking none to improve to 3-0 on the season.
Against Tiffin, the Cougars fell behind 1-0 in the first inning before breaking through in the fourth with four runs on five hits. Junior Sierra Parker (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills) singled home a run in the inning. Then in the fifth, sophomore Jacklyn Bates (Waterloo, NY/Waterloo) doubled in a run and freshman Alyssa Calderon (Fontana, CA/Etiwanda) hit a two-run triple for a 7-1 lead. After junior Dia Cascone (Staten Island, NY/Susan Wagner) drew a bases-loaded walk to make the score 8-1, freshman Kristen Knorr (Monroeville, NJ/Delsea) hit a game-ending single that brought home freshman Sara Zambelli (West Milford, NJ/West Milford) with the game-winning run.
Freshman pitcher Hanna Walkinshaw (Aptos, CA/Aptos) started and allowed a run on two hits while striking out four in four innings of work. Knorr finished with three hits in the win, with Calderon and Fryday recording two hits apiece.
The Cougars wrap up play at the Rebel Spring Games on Wednesday, Mar. 14 with games against Adelphi University at 9:00 a.m. and Edinboro University at 1:00 p.m. at Oren Brown Park.
