CALDWELL, N.J.- Caldwell University softball senior Sydney Ponto (West Deptford, N.J.) struck out 20 batters in a game one extra inning win as the #17 Cougars swept a doubleheader against American International College. The Cougars outlasted the Yellow Jackets 3-2 in nine innings and took the nightcap 10-2 in five innings. Ponto's 20 punch-outs is the third most in Division II this season.
 
The Cougars improve to 30-11 overall, marking the 15th consecutive 30+ win season and 16 of the last 17 years with 30 wins. The Yellow Jackets fall to 14-18 on the season.
 
In the opener, American International got on the board with a run in the opening inning to take the early lead. Caldwell got a run in the fourth as freshman Melissa Rini (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) reached on a fielder's choice. Rini moved to third on a single and scored on a fielder's choice by sophomore Carly Testa (Sicklerville, N.J.).
 
The game remained tied through seven innings as the game headed to extra innings. The international tiebreaker was in effect as the game proceeded to the ninth inning. The Yellow Jackets pushed a run across in the ninth to take a 2-1 lead.
 
Caldwell rallied in the bottom of the ninth as Rini started the inning at second base. Junior Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, N.J.) ripped a game-tying double to tie the game at 2-2. Following an out and a walk, junior Kiahna Silva (Etiwanda, Calif.) singled home pinch runner sophomore Demitria Kitrinos (Skillman, N.J.) for the walk-off victory.
 
Ponto (20-3) earned her conference leading 20th victory as she allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits in a complete game effort. She struck out 20 batters and is one of three pitchers in Division II to register 20+ punch outs in a game this season. The 20 strikeouts also marks the first time since the first time since 2006 that a Cougar pitching staff reached that mark, when two pitchers combined on a 22-strikeout effort on May 4, 2006.
 
In the nightcap, American International got on the board in the opening inning to take a 1-0 lead. Caldwell rallied in the bottom of the inning as senior Lauren Frye (Jupiter, Fla.) led off with a single. Rini doubled home Frye, while Monasseri blasted a two-run homerun for a 3-1 lead. The Cougars weren't finished in the inning as Silva drew a two-out walk and scored on a double by senior Amy Hickman (Jackson, N.J.). Junior Katelyn Johnson (Denville, N.J.) connected on a triple to score Hickman and put the Cougars ahead 5-1.
 
In the fourth, Silva had a RBI double as Caldwell extended to a 6-1 advantage. American International rallied with a run in their half of the fourth innings.
 
The Cougars pushed ahead in their half of the fourth as Caldwell loaded the bases with one out. Freshman Jessie Johnston (Livermore, Calif.) singled in a run, while Silva drove in two runs with a single. Johnston scored the final run for Caldwell on a wild pitch.
 
Johnston (6-5) tossed a complete game, allowing two runs on three hits and struck out one.
 
The Cougars travel to Concordia College for a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader on
Thursday, April 20 at 3:00 pm.