CALDWELL, N.J. - Sophomore
Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, NJ) blasted a pair of homeruns to power the #17 Caldwell University softball team to a non-conference doubleheader sweep against Molloy College. The Cougars took the opener 6-1 and completed the sweep with an 8-3 victory in the nightcap. Caldwell improves to 31-11 overall, while the Lions fall to 26-22 on the season.
Caldwell is ranked #1 in this week's NCAA Division II East Region poll, while the Lions are ranked #10 in this week's poll.
The Cougars struck in the opening inning of game one as senior
Brielle Reighn (Runnemeade, NJ) singled home junior
Amy Hickman (Jackson, NJ) for a 1-0 lead. Monasseri blasted a two-run shot for a 3-0 lead.
Molloy got their run in the second but Caldwell tacked on runs in the later innings. Senior
Megan Fryday (San Marcos, CA) hit a sacrifice fly in the third inning, while senior
Caitlin McCready (Jupiter, FL) singled in a run in the fourth. Hickman drove in a run in the sixth with a single.
Senior pitcher
Amber Padilla (Chino, CA) improved to 16-3 overall, as she tossed her 12
th complete game of the season. Padilla allowing one run on five hits and struck out eight on their way to the win.
In the nightcap, Molloy took an early lead with a run in the second inning. The Cougars battled back with eight runs in the final two innings. In the fifth, Hickman and McCready led off with back-to-back infield singles and moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt. Monasseri put the Cougars up 3-1 with a three-run homerun to add to her program single season record of 16.
Caldwell added five runs in the sixth as freshman
Katie Nichols (Acworth, GA) had a pinch-hit two-run homerun. Monasseri added an RBI single in the inning as the Cougars tacked on two more runs in the inning.
Molloy got back two runs in the top of the seventh but junior pitcher
Sydney Ponto (West Deptford, NJ) closed the door to earn his 14
th win of the season. Ponto (14-7) tossed her 15
th complete game of the season as she allowed three runs on nine hits and registered three strikeouts.
The Cougars conclude the regular season on Saturday, April 23 as they host Philadelphia University in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader at noon.