CC 9, CHC 1 (5 inn.)
CC 9, CHC 4
CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College softball team swept Chestnut Hill College in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader, 9-1 and 9-4, Tuesday afternoon at the CHC Softball Field. The victories give the Cougars (27-8) a 15-1 mark in conference play, while the Griffins drop to 1-21, 1-15 CACC.
Caldwell started quickly, scoring eight runs in the top of the first inning of Game 1. Senior Katie Margiotta (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) hit a two-run single and freshman Kristen Knorr (Monroeville, NJ/Delsea Reg.) had a two-run double in the inning, with junior Dia Cascone (Staten Island, NY/Susan Wagner), sophomore Nicole Velardi (Belleville, NJ/Belleville) and freshman Megan Fryday (San Marcos, CA/Mission Hills) also driving in runs. After the Griffins scored a run in the third, junior Amy Leal (New Bedford, MA/Bishop Stang) doubled home sophomore Jacklyn Bates (Waterloo, NY/Waterloo) in the fifth for a 9-1 lead.
Freshman Hanna Walkinshaw (Aptos, CA/Aptos) pitched all five innings, allowing one run on five hits with three strikeouts to improve to 6-4.
In Game 2, the Cougars led early again, scoring four times in the top of the first inning. Velardi and Leal had RBI singles, while Velardi stole home. Giana Cavallo hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first for Chestnut Hill to make the score 4-2 Caldwell. Cascone put the Cougars on top for good with a two-run home run in the fourth. Freshman Briana Gaspich (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) also hit an RBI double in the inning for a 7-2 lead. Then in the fifth, Bates hit a double that plated senior Rebecca Ashley (Bellingham, MA/Mt. St. Charles Acad.) to put Caldwell ahead 9-2. The Griffins scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to make the final 9-4.
Cascone went 3-for-4 with a double, a homer and three RBI, while Knorr, Gaspich and Bates had two hits apiece. Freshman Sarah Almasy (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) gave up four runs on three hits while walking two and fanning six in seven innings. The win gives Almasy a 9-1 record on the season.
The Cougars host Post University in another CACC doubleheader on Wednesday, Apr. 10. The first game starts at 3:00 p.m. at Caldwell Field.
