CALDWELL, N.J.- Senior pitcher Amber Padilla (Chino, CA) tossed a four-hitter in the opener as the #24 Caldwell University softball team split a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader against Post University. The Cougars rallied in the sixth inning to take the opener 3-2, while the Eagles took the nightcap 4-2.

Caldwell moves to 11-9 overall and 6-2 in the CACC, while the Eagles stand at 11-16 and 4-3 in conference play.

In the opener, Post broke through with a run in the first and third innings for a 2-0 lead. Caldwell put runners in scoring position in the third and fourth inning but waited until the sixth to put runs on the board.

Junior Lauren Frye (Jupiter, FL) got the offense going as she led off with a double. Junior Amy Hickman (Jackson, NJ) reached on an infield single and stole second to put runners at second and third. senior Caitlin McCready (Jupiter, FL) doubled to drive in Frye to cut the score to 2-1. Senior Brielle Reighn (Runnemeade, NJ) came through with the big hit as she doubled in Hickman and McCready to put the Cougars in the lead at 3-2.

Padilla (6-2) closed the door in the seventh to cap off a complete game effort. She scattered four hits, allowing two runs (one earned) and struck out six.
In the nightcap, Post got on the board in the third inning as they scored on an error. The Cougars got the run back in their half of the third as Hickman led off with a single. She moved to second on a ground out and tied the game as sophomore Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, NJ) singled her home.

The Eagles plated three runs in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. Caldwell got one back in their half of the inning a Frye blasted a solo homerun. The Cougars got a runner on base in the seventh but failed to come up with the tying runs.

Junior Sydney Ponto (West Deptford, NJ) tossed a complete game, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and struck out eight to fall to 4-6 on the season.

The Cougars travel to Dominican College for a CACC doubleheader on Thursday, March 31 at 2:30 pm.