CALDWELL, N.J.- Caldwell University softball junior Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, N.J.) blasted a homerun and drove in six runs as the #25 Cougars swept a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader against Chestnut Hill College. Caldwell took the opener 9-2 and completed the sweep with a 3-2 win in the nightcap.
 
The Cougars improve to 20-9 overall and 12-0 in the CACC, while the Griffins fall to 6-18 and 4-6 in conference play.
 
Chestnut Hill took the early lead in the opener as they scored a run in the first inning. The Cougars answered in the bottom of the first as senior Lauren Frye (Jupiter, Fla.) led off with a double and moved to second on a wild pitch. Moansseri lifted a sacrifice fly to score Frye to tie the score at 1-1.
 
The Cougars weren't finished in the inning as sophomore Carly Testa (Sicklerville, N.J.) singled and freshman Jessie Johnston (Livermore, Calif.) drew a walk. Junior Kiahna Silva (Etiwanda, Calif.) blasted a three-run homerun for a 4-1 lead.
 
Caldwell added three runs in the second inning as sophomore Demitria Kitrinos (Skillman, N.J.) and freshman Melissa Rini (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) drew walks. Monasseri connected on a three-run homerun for a 7-1 lead. She adds to her program career record with her 28th long ball in her career.
 
The Cougars tacked on a run on the fifth as Silva singled and stole second. Kitrinos singled home Silva. The Griffins got a run back in the top of the second but Caldwell loaded the bases in their half of the inning. Junior Katelyn Johnson (Denville, N.J.) hit a sacrifice fly to score senior Kate Hogan (East Meadow, N.Y.) with the ninth run of the game.
 
Senior hurler Sydney Ponto (West Deptford, N.J.) improved to 13-3 on the season as she tossed five innings, allowing one run on one hit and struck out 12. Johnston came on in relief, going to final two innings, allowing one run on three hits and struck out two.
 
In the nightcap, Chestnut Hill again took the early lead as they went up 1-0 with a run in the third inning. Caldwell responded in their half of the inning as Frye and Rini walked with one out. Monasseri singled up the middle to score Frye. Rini eventually moved to third base and scored on a wild pitch to put Caldwell up 2-1.
 
The Cougars added to their lead in the fifth as Frye singled with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Monasseri singled to score Frye for a 3-1 lead.
 
The Griffins rallied in the seventh as they scored a run to cut the score to 3-2 but Ponto struck out three batters to end the threat to earn her first save of the season. Sophomore Alexa Toner (Mt. Laurel, N.J) tossed 6+ innings, allowing two runs on five hits and struck out three to improve to 2-1 on the season.
 
The Cougars host Holy Family University in a CACC doubleheader on Sunday, April 9 at noon at Caldwell Field.