BRONXVILLE, N.Y.- Caldwell University softball senior Sydney Ponto (West Deptford, N.J.) tossed a two-hit shutout in the opener, while senior Lauren Frye (Jupiter, Fla.) doubled in the go-ahead run in the nightcap at the #17 Cougars swept a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader against Concordia College. Caldwell took the opener 4-0, while winning the nightcap 6-2 in eight innings.
 
The Cougars improve to 32-11 overall and 21-1 in the CACC, while the Clippers fall to 4-18 and 3-13 in conference play.
 
In the opener, Frye singled to lead off the first inning, while freshman Melissa Rini (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) was hit by a pitch. Junior Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, N.J.) singled home Frye for the first run of the game. Following a sacrifice bunt, freshman Jessie Johnston (Livermore, Calif.) hit a sacrifice fly to put Caldwell up 2-0.
 
The Cougars added a pair of runs in the later innings as junior Kiahna Silva (Etiwanda, Calif.) led off the fourth inning with a double. Freshman Kelle Lalier (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) singled in Silva for a 3-0 lead. Caldwell took advantage of two Concordia errors in the sixth as they added one run.
 
Ponto (21-3) was stellar in the pitching circle as she tossed a complete game two-hit shutout. She added to her conference leading strikeout total as she registered 12 punch-outs in the win.
 
Caldwell got on the board in the opening inning of game two as Rini drew a one out walk. Sophomore Carly Testa (Sicklerville, N.J.) reached on an error to put runners at first and third. Rini stole home, while Testa scored later in the inning on a Silva double. The Clippers rallied with a run in the first and tied it up with a run in the second. The score remained tied through seven innings as the game headed to extra innings.
 
The Cougars broke through in the eighth inning as they rallied with two outs. Junior Katelyn Johnson (Denville, N.J.) reached on a fielder's choice, while sophomore Katie Nichols (Acworth, Ga.) singled. Frye followed with a double to score freshman pinch runner Daniela Solis (Wilmington, Del.) with the eventual game-winning run. Nichols scored on a wild pitch, while Monasseri singled in one run and a second run scored on an error for a 6-2 lead.
 
Johnston (7-5) went the distance as she allowed two runs on six hits and struck out three.
 
The Cougars, ranked #3 in this week's NCAA D2 East Region poll, travels to Mercy College on Saturday, April 22 for a doubleheader at 12 pm. The Mavericks are ranked #4 in this week's East Region poll.