CALDWELL, N.J.- Caldwell University softball senior
Lauren Frye (Jupiter, Fla.) ripped two triples and scored three times as the Cougars completed a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader sweep against Holy Family University. The Cougars took the opener 2-1 and completed the sweep with a 6-4 win in the nightcap.
Caldwell improves to 22-9 overall and 14-0 in the CACC, while the Tigers fall to 13-13 overall and 7-5 in conference play.
The Cougars took the early lead as Frye led off with a single, while freshman
Melissa Rini (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) drew a walk. Junior
Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, N.J.) singled to left to score Frye and put the Caldwell up 1-0. Holy Family evened the score in the second on a solo homerun.
Caldwell broke the tie in the fifth as Frye led off the inning with a triple. Sophomore
Carly Testa (Sicklerville, N.J.) ripped a two-out single to put the Cougars ahead 2-1.
Senior
Sydney Ponto (West Deptford, N.J.) was dominate on the mound as she tossed a complete game, allowing one run on six hits and struck out six to improve to 14-3 on the season.
In the nightcap, the Tigers jumped on the board in the opening inning with a run to take a 1-0 lead. Caldwell answered in the bottom of the first to even the score at 1-1. Holy Family answered with a run in the second to take a 2-1 lead.
Sophomore
Katie Nichols (Acworth, Ga.) doubled with one out and scored on a triple by Frye to tie the game at 2-2. Rini reached on an infield single to score Frye as Caldwell took a 3-2 lead. The Cougars added to their lead in the third as junior
Kiahna Silva (Etiwanda, Calif.) doubled with two outs. Sophomore
Hannah Polak (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) singled home Silva for a 4-2 lead.
Holy Family got a run back in the fourth but Caldwell added two runs in their final two at-bats. Silva doubled with one out in the fifth and scored on a Polak single. Caldwell loaded the bases with one out in the sixth as Nichols was hit by a pitch to score Testa.
The Tigers got a run in the seventh but Ponto in relief closed the door to earn her second save of the season. Freshman
Jessie Johnston (Livermore, Calif.) started, going 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits. Ponto tossed 1 2/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits and registers three strikeouts.
The Cougars travel to LIU Post for a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday, April 11 at 2:30 pm.