CALDWELL, N.J.- Caldwell University softball junior Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, N.J.) went 4-for-5 with two homeruns and five RBI as the #16 Cougars swept a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader against Dominican College. Caldwell edged the Chargers in the opener 2-1 and won the nightcap 8-2 in six innings.
 
Caldwell improves to 36-11 overall and 23-1 in the CACC. The win in game one clinched the CACC Regular Season title for the fourth straight season. Dominican falls to 23-18 and 15-7 in conference play.
 
In the opener, senior Lauren Frye (Jupiter, Fla.) reached base on an error in the first inning. She stole second and moved to third on a Monasseri single. Sophomore Carly Testa (Sicklerville, N.J.) put the Cougars up 1-0 with a single to score Frye.
 
Caldwell added to their lead in the third as Monasseri blasted a solo homerun. The Chargers got a solo homerun in the sixth inning but senior pitcher Sydney Ponto (West Deptford, N.J.) closed the door on a rally.
 
Ponto (23-3) struck out 10 in a complete game effort, allowing one run on four hits.
 
In the nightcap, Dominican got a run in the opening inning to take a 1-0 lead. Caldwell rallied in their half of the inning as Frye ripped a lead-off single. Monasseri blasted her second homerun of the game, eighth this season, to put Caldwell ahead 2-1.
 
Caldwell added a run in the fourth as junior Katelyn Johnson (Denville, N.J.) drew a two-out walk. Frye followed with a single, while freshman Melissa Rini (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) singled home Johnson for a 3-1 lead.
 
Dominican took advantage of an error in the fifth to close the gap to 3-2. Testa led off the bottom of the fifth with a double. Freshman Jessie Johnston (Livermore, Calif.) followed with a double to score Testa. Caldwell loaded the bases and Frye drove in a pair of runs with a double. Monasseri added a two-run single as the Cougars pushed ahead 8-2.
 
Johnston (9-5) tossed a complete game, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and struck out two.
 
The Cougars travel to regionally ranked Molloy College on Thursday April 27 at 3 pm.