ST. LEO, Fla. – The Caldwell University softball team started the 2015 season at the St. Leo University Tournament, beating Queens College and falling to the host Lions Friday afternoon at University Stadium. The Cougars, who are ranked 14th nationally, won 3-2 and lost 4-0 to start the year 1-1.

In the first game, Caldwell scored twice on a sacrifice fly from junior Caitlin McCready (Jupiter, FL/Dwyer) and an RBI double by freshman Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, NJ/Monroe Twp.) in the third inning that erased a 1-0 deficit. After Queens tied the score with a run in the top of the fifth, Monasseri singled home senior Sarah Almasy (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) in the bottom of the fifth for the go-ahead run. Junior pitcher Amber Padilla (Chino, CA/Pomona Catholic) retired the final six Knights' batters in order to wrap up the win.

Padilla, the 2014 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Pitcher of the Year, held Queens (2-4) to two runs, one earned, on five hits while striking out three and walking one in seven innings. Monasseri went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in her first collegiate game. Senior Kristen Knorr (Monroeville, NJ/Delsea) was 2-for-2 with a run and a walk.

Against St. Leo (19-7), the Cougars managed just four hits against Lions' pitcher Alana Tabel, who fanned six and walked two in a complete-game victory. St. Leo scored twice in the fourth and two more in the sixth on a two-run homer by Brittany Creamer. Sophomore pitcher Sydney Ponto (West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford) pitched well, allowing two runs on five hits over five innings of work to take the loss.

Caldwell continues play at the St. Leo Tournament on Saturday, Mar. 14 with games against Queens at 8:00 a.m. and No. 11 LIU Post at 10:00 a.m. at University Field.