Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – The Caldwell College softball team saw its season come to an end with a 3-0 loss to No. 20 LIU Post in the third and deciding game of the NCAA Division II East Super Regional Saturday afternoon at the LIU Post Softball Field. The Cougars conclude their season with a record of 45-8, while the Pioneers (50-9) win the Super Regional and advance to the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

LIU Post got on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning with a solo home run by Aly Dzierzinski. Pioneers' pitcher Megan Salcido held the Cougar lineup without a hit until senior Nicole Velardi (Belleville, NJ/Belleville) delivered a single in the bottom of the fifth. Caldwell threatened in the sixth, when freshman Amy Hickman (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) singled and moved to second with a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Rachel Berzak (Cypress, CA/Pacifica). But Salcido retired the next two batters.

In the top of the seventh, Nicole Hagenah hit a two-run home run to put the Pioneers on top, 3-0. Salcido walked sophomore Brielle Reighn (Runnemeade, NJ/Triton Regional) in the bottom of the seventh but closed out the two-hit shutout and the regional title.

Sophomore pitcher Amber Padilla (Chino, CA/Pomona Catholic), who went the distance in the Cougars' 6-1 win in Game 2 earlier in the day, started Game 3 and allowed one run on five hits over four innings. Freshman Sydney Ponto (West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford) pitched the final three innings, giving up five hits and two runs.

The Cougars were making their first appearance in the Super Regional after winning the East Region 2 Tournament last week. Caldwell has qualified for the NCAA East Region Tournament for seven consecutive seasons and 10 of the last 11 years.

Seniors Velardi, Jacklyn Bates (Waterloo, NY/Waterloo) and Lindsay Truan (San Jose, CA/Leland) finished their careers with today's loss.

2014 NCAA Division II East Super Regional Softball Tournament
Host: Long Island University Post, Brookville, N.Y.
Friday, May 16
Game 1: #1 LIU Post 7, #2 Caldwell 4

Saturday, May 17
Game 2: #2 Caldwell 6, #1 LIU Post 1
Game 3: #1 LIU Post 3, #2 Caldwell 0