ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y.- The Caldwell University softball team saw its season come to a close as they lost a pair of game on Day Two of the NCAA Division II Softball Championship. The #3 seed Cougars fell in the winner's bracket to #2 Molloy College 5-0 and lost in their elimination game to #6 Merrimack College 3-1. The Warriors and Lions advance to play in the East Region 2 Championship game.
 
Caldwell's season ends at 45-15, tying the program record for wins (2013, 2014). The Lions improve to 34-16, while the Warriors improve to 35-14.
 
In their opening loss to Molloy in the winner's game, Caldwell were limited to three singles by senior Amy Hickman (Jackson, N.J.), junior Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, N.J.) and freshman Melissa Rini (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.).
 
The Lions took the lead with a run in the second inning. Molloy added one run in the sixth and scored three in the seventh inning.
 
Senior Sydney Ponto (West Deptford, N.J.) tossed 6 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on 10 hits, while striking out six. Freshman Jessie Johnston (Livermore, Calif.) came on in relief, allowing one hit in 1/3 of an inning.
 
In the second game of the day, Caldwell got on the board in the third inning. Sophomore Hannah Polak (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) was hit by a pitch to start the inning. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and came around to score on a Monasseri single up the middle.
 
Ponto (30-6) pitched a shutout through five innings but Merrimack broke through in the sixth. They tied the game on a sacrifice fly and added two more runs in the inning on a two-run single. Caldwell got runners on base in the sixth and seventh innings but failed to score.
 
The losses brought to an end the Cougar careers of Hickman, Ponto, Lauren Frye (Jupiter, Fla.) and Kate Hogan (East Meadow, N.Y.). Hickman finishes her career as one of 11 players with 200 career hits. Frye ranks among the all-time leaders with 35 doubles, while Ponto finishes second all-time in wins with 75.