MELBOURNE, Fla.- The #22 Caldwell University softball team closed out their Florida trip with a 5-4 loss in eight innings to Florida Tech.
 
The Cougars fall to 4-7 overall, while the Panthers improve to 13-16.  
 
The teams battled through three scoreless innings before Caldwell broke through in the fourth. Junior Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, N.J.) and sophomore Carly Testa (Sicklerville, N.J.) singled with one out to get the rally started. Sophomore Hannah Polak (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) doubled to score pinch runner sophomore Demitria Kitrinos (Skillman, N.J.).
 
The Panthers tied the score in their half of the fourth but the Cougars rallied with two runs in the fifth. Sophomore Katie Nichols (Acworth. Ga.) doubled to lead off the inning. Senior Lauren Frye (Jupiter, Fla.) reached on a fielder's choice to put runners at first and third. Freshman Melissa Rini (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) singled to score Nichols, while Monasseri singled to drive home Frye for a 3-1 Caldwell lead.
 
Florida Tech cut the score 3-2 with a run fifth but Caldwell added a run in the top of the sixth. Junior Kiahna Silva (Etiwanda, Calif.) singled to lead off the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Silva moved to third on a Nichols single and scored on a Frye base hit.
 
The Panthers rallied with a run in the sixth and tied the score with a run in the seventh to force extra innings. Florida Tech plated the winning run with one out in the eighth to take the game.
 
Senior hurler Sydney Ponto (West Deptford, N.J.) went the distance, tossing 7 1/3 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits and struck out five.
 
The Cougars are scheduled to have their home opener on Saturday, March 18 as they host USciences in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader at noon.