Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – The Caldwell College softball team beat Adelphi University, 3-2 to extend its winning streak to 28, only to have the Panthers take Game 2, 4-3 in an exciting non-conference doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at Janet L. Ficke Field. The 17th-ranked Cougars, who had not lost since Mar. 11, are now 32-5 on the season, while Adelphi is 31-10.

Caldwell started fast in Game 1, as freshman Brielle Reighn (Runnemeade, NJ/Triton Reg.) singled home sophomore Kristen Knorr (Monroeville, NJ/Delsea) in the top of the first for a 1-0 lead. The Panthers, who were ranked 13th nationally last week, tied the score in the bottom of the first, then took the lead on back-to-back doubles by Victoria Wink and Katie Andrews in the bottom of the sixth to lead 2-1. With two out in the top of the seventh and sophomore Megan Fryday (San Marcos, CA/Mission Hills) on third, sophomore Sara Zambelli (West Milford, NJ/West Milford) delivered a pinch-hit, infield single to plate Fryday and tie the score at 2-2. Still in the seventh, freshman Caitlin McCready (Jupiter, FL/Dwyer) re-entered for Zambelli, stole second and came home on a single by Reighn to put Caldwell ahead, 3-2.

Senior pitcher Kourtney Wilson (Islip, NY/St. Anthony's) made the lead stand, retiring the Panthers in order in the seventh to improve to 14-1 on the season. Wilson held Adelphi to two runs on nine hits while striking out four in seven innings. Reighn, sophomore Briana Gaspich (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) and junior Jacklyn Bates (Waterloo, NY/Waterloo) each had two hits.

The second game also featured late-game heroics, as the Cougars erased a 1-0 deficit with three runs in the top of the seventh. Sophomore Alyssa Calderon (Fontana, CA/Etiwanda) led off with a double and senior Amy Leal (New Bedford, MA/Bishop Stang) came on as a pinch runner. After moving to third on a groundout, Leal scored the tying run on a single by Gaspich. Junior Nicole Velardi (Belleville, NJ/Belleville) followed with a walk, putting runners on first and second with one out. A strikeout brought Bates to the plate, and she came through with a double to left-center that scored both Gaspich and Velardi for a 3-1 Caldwell lead.

This time it was Adelphi's turn to mount a comeback, loading the bases in the bottom of the seventh with no outs. Heather Salerno drew a walk, and Wink hit a sacrifice fly to tie the score at 3-3. After an intentional walk and a strikeout, Janine Leo singled to plate Dorko with the game-winning run.

Freshman Amber Padilla (Chino, CA/Pomona Catholic) pitched six innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. Laurin Watts went the distance for Adelphi to improve to 15-2. McCready had two hits for Caldwell, while Dorko went 4-for-4 in Game 2 for the Panthers.

The 28-game winning streak is believed to be the longest by a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference team, topping Caldwell's 19-game streak in 2004.

Caldwell plays an important CACC doubleheader on Thursday, Apr. 18, hosting Dominican College. Both the Cougars (20-0) and the Chargers (16-0) are unbeaten in conference play. The first game starts at 3:00 p.m. at Caldwell Field.