ORANGEBURG, N.Y.- Senior pitcher Amber Padilla (Chino, CA) and junior pitcher Sydney Ponto (West Deptford, NJ) combined to allow one run in two games as the #24 Caldwell University softball team swept a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader against Dominican College. The Cougars took the opener 9-1 in five innings, while taking the nightcap 1-0.

Caldwell improves to 13-9 overall and 8-2 in the CACC, while the Chargers fall to 13-11 and 6-3 in the conference.  

In the opener, junior Amy Hickman (Jackson, NJ) led off the game with an infield single and stole second. Senior Brielle Reighn (Runnemeade, NJ) doubled in Hickman to put the Cougars in front 1-0. Reighn moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out by senior Megan Fryday (San Marcos, CA).

In the second, senior Caitlin McCready (Jupiter, FL) reached on a fielder's choice following a Hickman one-out single. Reighn doubled in McCready and eventually came around to score on a base hit by Fryday for a 4-0 Caldwell lead.

Dominican got a run back in their half of the second but the Cougars put the game out of reach with five in the third inning. The Cougars loaded the bases with one out as freshman Hannah Polak (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) and Hickman singled, while junior Lauren Frye (Jupiter, FL) drew a walk. McCready and Reighn both singled runs in, while sophomore Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, NJ) hit a sacrifice fly. Fryday again had a clutch hit as she doubled home two runs for a 9-1 lead.

Padilla (7-2) scattered four hits in a complete game effort, striking out five to help the Cougars take game one. Hickman went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, while Reighn went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI. Fryday went 2-for-4 with four RBI in the opener.

In the nightcap, Ponto (5-6) was dominant on the hill as she tossed a complete game shutout, allowing three hits and striking out five. Runs were scarce in the second game as both pitchers put up 0's through five innings. Caldwell broke through in the sixth as Monasseri blasted a solo homerun to put Caldwell in the lead. The Chargers got runners on base in the sixth and seventh but Ponto closed the door to complete the sweep. Monassseri and Fryday both collected two hits in the nightcap.

The Cougars travel to Holy Family University for a CACC doubleheader on Saturday, April 2 at 12:00 pm.