CALDWELL, N.J.- Sophomore Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, NJ) blasted three of the Cougars four homeruns of the afternoon as the #21 Caldwell University softball team swept a doubleheader against Concordia College in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action.

The Cougars up their mark to 16-10 overall and 11-3 in the CACC, while the Clippers fall to 12-7 and 10-4 in conference play.  

In the opener, the score remained tied until the Cougars broke through in the third inning. Caldwell loaded the bases with no outs on a walk and two singles. Senior Brielle Reighn (Runnemeade, NJ) drove in one run with a fielder's choice, while Monaserri connected on her homerun of the afternoon, driving in three runs.
The Clippers got a run back in the fourth but the Cougars added to their lead in the fourth. Freshman Hannah Polak (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) led off with a singled and scored on a homerun by junior Lauren Frye (Jupiter, FL). Caldwell wasn't finished as senior Caitlin McCready (Jupiter, FL) and Reighn hit back-to-back ground-rule doubles to drive in another run. Monasseri hit her second homerun of the opener to push the Cougar lead to 9-1.

Senior pitcher Amber Padilla (Chino, CA) sealed the deal, retiring all three batters in the top of the fifth to end the game. Padilla (9-2) tossed a complete game three-hitter, allowing one run and registered eight strikeouts.

In the nightcap, junior pitcher Sydney Ponto (West Deptford, NJ) dominated the action as she tossed a two hitter. Senior Megan Fryday (San Marcos, CA) doubled in a run in the opening inning to get the Cougars on the board.

In the third, junior Amy Hickman (Jackson, NJ) and McCready pulled off the delayed double steal with Hickman stealing home for one run. Monasseri blasted her third homerun of the day to drive in McCready for a 4-0 lead.

Caldwell tacked on three more in the fifth as Reighn and Monasseri reached base with two outs. Fryday ripped a two-run double, while sophomore Kiahna Silva (Etiwanda, CA) followed with a double to score Fryday. Caldwell ended the game in the sixth as Hickman reached on a fielder's choice and stole second. McCready singled to score Hickman to end the game in six innings.

Ponto (6-7) shined in the victory as she tossed a two-hit shutout and struck out 10.

For the doubleheader, Monasseri went 3-for-3 with three walks, three homeruns and seven RBI. McCready went 4-for-6 with a double and three runs scored, while Fryday went 3-for-6 with two doubles and three RBI. Reighn went 3-for-6 with four runs scored, two doubles and two RBI.

Caldwell travels to Georgian Court University on Friday, April 8 for a CACC doubleheader at 2 pm.