WEST HAVEN, Conn.- Junior pitcher Sydney Ponto (West Deptford, NJ) tossed a three-hit shutout in the nightcap as the #19 Caldwell University softball team split a doubleheader against the University of New Haven in a battle of the East Region top teams. The Chargers were #1 in last week's NCAA Division II East Region poll, while the Cougars were #2 in region.

Caldwell moves to 27-11 on the season, while the Chargers stand at 20-10.

The Cougars were limited to one hit in the opener as senior Brielle Reighn (Runnemeade, NJ) had a sixth inning lead off doubles for their lone hit of the game as Caldwell fell 3-0. Senior pitcher Amber Padilla (Chino, CA) tossed a complete game, allowing three run on nine hits and struck out three to fall to 14-3 on the season.

Caldwell earned a split in the nightcap behind Ponto's (12-7) strong pitching performance to lead the Cougars to an 8-0 victory in six innings. She tossed a complete game, striking out three and allowing three hits.

Freshman Katie Nichols (Acworth, GA) doubled in the first run of the game in the third inning, while sophomore Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, NJ) blasted her 13^th homerun of the season with a two-run shot in the third inning.

The Cougars loaded the bases in the fourth inning and scored a run as freshman Carly Testa (Sicklerville, NJ) drew a walk for a 4-0 lead. Caldwell added to their lead in the sixth as Reighn and senior Megan Fryday (San Marcos, CA) both had two-run singles to push the lead to 8-0.

The Cougars host Felician University on Wednesday, April 20 for a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader at 2:30 pm