ORANGEBURG, N.Y.- Sophomore Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, NJ) blasted a pair of homeruns in the opener, part of a four homerun day for the team, as the Caldwell University softball team swept Nyack College in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play. The Cougars move over the .500 mark at 9-7 and up their conference record to 5-1, while the Knights fall to 5-19 and 2-6 in conference play.

Caldwell struck in the opening inning as senior Caitlin McCready (Jupiter, FL) doubled with one out. Monasseri belted a two-run homerun for an early lead. Nyack tied the score in the second but the Cougars added to their lead in third. McCready was again the table setter as she doubled with one out and scored on Monasseri's second long ball of the game.

The Cougars added a pair of runs in the sixth and four more in the seventh. Freshman Hannah Polak (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) led off with a double and scored on a single by junior Lauren Frye (Jupiter, FL). Polak had the key hit in the seventh as she blasted a grand slam homerun to put the game away for the Cougars.
Junior Sydney Ponto (West Deptford, NJ) evened her record at 4-4 as she tossed six innings, allowing two runs on three hits, while striking out seven. Freshman Alexa Toner (Mt. Laurel, NJ) closed the door on the win with a scoreless seventh.

In the night cap, senior Amber Padilla (Chino, CA) and Toner combined on a two-hit shutout to guide the Cougars to victory. Padilla (4-2) tossed three innings, allowing two hits and struck out three. Toner came on in relief, tossing the final two innings, striking out one.

The Cougars took control early with six runs in the opening inning. Senior Brielle Reighn (Runnemeade, NJ) and Monasseri both had run scoring hits to put Caldwell in front. Junior Amy Hickman (Jackson, NJ) had a single and two stolen bases in the inning, while drawing a bases loaded walk for an RBI.

In the second, Polak had a sacrifice fly for another run, while Frye led off the third with a solo homerun. The Cougars added a run in the fourth on a Frye RBI double as the game ended after five innings.

The Cougars travel to Pace University for a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday, March 24 against the Setters at noon.