PHILADELPHIA, Pa.- The #16 Caldwell University softball team swept a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader against Philadelphia University. Caldwell took the opener 9-0 in five innings and completed the sweep with a 3-0 win in the nightcap.
The Cougars improve to 38-13 overall and finish conference play at 25-1. The Rams fall 19-26 overall and 11-13 in CACC play.
Caldwell got a their first run in the third as senior
Lauren Frye (Jupiter, Fla.) scored the first run of the game. The Cougars tacked on two in the fourth as sophomore
Carly Testa (Sickerville, N.J.) and freshman
Melissa Rini (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) singled. Freshman
Jessie Johnston (Livermore, Calif.) grounded out to score Testa, while junior
Kiahna Silva (Etiwanda, Calif.) grounded out to score Rini for a 3-0 lead.
The Cougars pulled away in the fifth as they scored six runs. Junior
Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, N.J.) doubled in two runs, while Testa added an RBI single. Rini hit a sacrifice fly as part of the rally.
Senior
Sydney Ponto (West Deptford, N.J.) struck out six tossed four scoreless and hitless innings. Freshman
Sara Bearden (Ewing, N.J.) allowed two hits in one inning of work.
In the nightcap, the game was scoreless through five innings. The Cougars rallied in the sixth as Rini was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Rini moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a Silva double. Sophomore
Katie Nichols (Acworth, Ga.) singled and moved to second on an error that allowed Silva to score. Junior
Katelyn Johnson (Denville, N.J.) singled to put runners at first and third. Caldwell pulled off the double steal as Nichols scored for the Cougars.
Ponto got the start as she tossed four scoreless innings, allowing two hits and struck out six. Johnston earned the win in relief to improve to 10-6. She pitched three scoreless innings, allowing three hits.
The Cougars host Queens College on Sunday, April 30 at noon for Senior Day at Caldwell Field.
