LAKEWOOD, N.J. – The Caldwell University softball team began the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament with two victories, an 8-0 win in five innings over host Georgian Court University and a 9-1 triumph in six innings over Holy Family University Thursday at the GCU Softball Complex. The Cougars, who are the No. 1 seed, improve to 32-12-1 and advance to face Wilmington University on Friday, May 1.

Against Georgian Court, Caldwell broke through in the bottom of the second inning with six runs. Freshman Kiahna Silva (Etiwanda, CA/Etiwanda) hit an RBI single, senior Kristen Knorr (Monroeville, NJ/Delsea) delivered a two-run single and junior Brielle Reighn (Runnemeade, NJ/Triton Reg.) doubled home junior Caitlin McCready (Jupiter, FL/Dwyer). Sophomore Lauren Frye (Jupiter, FL/Jupiter) also hit a sacrifice fly to plate freshman Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, NJ/Monroe Twp.) in the inning. Then in the third, the Cougars scored a pair of unearned runs on two hits and three errors for an 8-0 lead.

Sophomore pitcher Sydney Ponto (West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford) shut out the Lions on three hits while striking out six and one walk in four innings. Senior Sarah Almasy (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) pitched a scoreless fifth inning in relief. McCready and Silva each had two hits.

In the day's second game, Monasseri singled home Reighn in the bottom of the first for a 1-0 lead. In the third inning, the Cougars scored four runs to take a 5-0 advantage. McCready came home on an error, freshman Kortney Craker (San Marcos, CA/Mission Hills) doubled to score Reighn, sophomore Amy Hickman (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) singled to plate Craker, and sophomore Gracie Sullivan (Elmhurst, IL/York) slid home safely on a bunt by Silva.

After Holy Family scored a run in the fifth, Caldwell ended the game with four more runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Cougars drew six walks, including three with the bases loaded, and Monasseri was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Junior pitcher Amber Padilla (Chino, CA/Pomona Catholic) gave up one run on five hits in six innings to earn the victory. She worked out of trouble in the fifth with the bases loaded and nobody out, walking in a run and getting three straight groundouts to end the threat. McCready, Reighn, Craker and Monasseri had two hits apiece.

Caldwell will face third-seeded Wilmington at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, May 1 at the GCU Softball Field.

2015 CACC Softball Tournament - Hosted by Georgian Court, Lakewood, N.J.
Thursday, April 30
Game 1 - #1 Caldwell 8, #8 Georgian Court 0 (5 inn.)
Game 2 - #2 Dominican 6, #7 Bloomfield 2
Game 3 - #3 Wilmington 4, #6 Felician 0
Game 4 - #5 Holy Family 2, #4 Post 0 (8 inn.)
Game 5 –#4 Post 7, #8 Georgian Court 1
Game 6 – #7 Bloomfield 4, #6 Felician 0
Game 7 – #1 Caldwell 9, #5 Holy Family 1 (6 inn.)
Game 8 – #3 Wilmington 3, #2 Dominican 2

Friday, May 1
Game 9 – #4 Post vs. #2 Dominican – 11:00 a.m. – Field 1
Game 10 – #7 Bloomfield vs. #5 Holy Family – 11:00 a.m. – Field 2
Game 11 – #1 Caldwell vs. #3 Wilmington – 1:00 p.m. – Field 1
Game 12 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner – 1:00 p.m. – Field 2
Game 13 – Game 12 winner vs. Game 11 loser – 3:00 p.m. – Field 1

Saturday, May 2
Game 14 – Game 11 winner vs. Game 13 winner – 12:00 p.m. – Field 1
Game 15 – "If necessary game" – Game 14 winner vs. Game 14 loser – 2:00 p.m. – Field 1