BROOKVILLE, N.Y.- Caldwell University softball junior Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, N.J.) homered and drove in four runs as the #25 Cougars splits a doubleheader against LIU Post. Caldwell took the opener 7-1 but fell in the nightcap 7-4.
 
The Cougars move to 23-10 overall, while the Pioneers stand at 15-15.
 
In the opener, Caldwell scored three runs in the opening inning. Freshman Melissa Rini (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) was hit by a pitch with one out and moved to second on a wild pitch. Monasseri singled in Rini for the first run of the game. Freshman Jessie Johnston (Livermore, Calif.) singled and junior Kiahna Silva (Etiwanda, Calif.) doubled in two runs for a 3-0 Caldwell lead.
 
The Pioneers rallied with a run in the second inning. The Cougars tacked on two runs in the fourth inning as Silva singled and eventually moved to third. Junior Katelyn Johnson (Denville, N.J.) drew a walk and freshman Kelle Lalier (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) hit a sacrifice fly. Senior Lauren Frye (Jupiter, Fla.) doubled in Johnson as the Cougars pushed ahead 5-1.
 
Caldwell added a run in the fifth inning on a Silva sacrifice fly and tacked on a run in the seventh. Sophomore Carly Testa (Sicklerville, N.J.) led off the inning with a single. Johnston doubled in a run as Caldwell extended their lead to 7-1.
 
Senior Sydney Ponto (West Deptford, N.J.) struck out eight in a complete game effort. She allowed one run on four hits as she improved to 15-3 on the season.
 
In the nightcap, the Cougars got on the board in the first inning as Frye drew a leadoff walk. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and advanced to third on a groundout. Testa grounded out to score Frye for a 1-0 lead. LIU Post took the lead in the bottom of the first with three runs.
 
Caldwell tied the game in the third inning as sophomore Demitria Kitrinos (Skillman. N.J.) walked and Frye reached on an error. Monasseri doubled in two runs to tie the score at 3-3.
 
The Pioneers retook the lead with four runs in the third to take a 7-3 lead. Monasseri added a run for Caldwell in the fifth as she blasted a solo homerun.
 
Johnston (5-5) tossed 2 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits. Freshman Sara Bearden (Ewing, N.J.) came on in relief, going 3 1/3 scoreless innings and recorded one strikeout.
 
The Cougars host Georgian Court University in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 12 at 2:30 pm.