LAKEWOOD, N.J. – The Caldwell University softball team defeated Philadelphia University, 12-3 in five innings to win the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament at the GCU Softball Complex. The Cougars capture their seventh CACC championship and have won two of the last three CACC Titles. Caldwell receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament. The Cougars will await their seeding on the NCAA D2 Softball Selection Show, which will be streamed live via ncaa.com on Monday, May 8 at 10 am.
 
Caldwell got on the board in the opening inning as seniors Amy Hickman (Jackson, N.J.) and Lauren Frye (Jupiter, Fla.) led off with back to back doubles. Junior Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, N.J.) hit a sacrifice fly to put Caldwell up 1-0. Frye stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman Jessie Johnston (Livermore, Calif.).
 
Philadelphia rallied back in the second inning as they took the lead. The Rams pushed across three runs as they went up 3-2. In the bottom of the inning, junior Katelyn Johnson (Denville, N.J.) blasted a solo homerun as the Cougars tied the score at 3-3.
 
The Cougars rallied in the third as sophomore Carly Testa (Sicklerville, N.J) drew a walk, while freshman Melissa Rini (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) was hit by a pitch. Johnston reached on a fielder's choice to keep runners at first and second. Junior Kiahna Silva (Etiwanda, Calif.) put Caldwell back in the lead with a run scoring single. The Cougars took advantage of an error to add two more runs in the inning to extend their lead to 6-3.
 
Caldwell added six runs in the fourth as they rallied with two outs. Monasseri was hit by a pitch, while Testa reached base on an error. Rini was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Johnston singled in two runs, while Silva drove in one run with a single. Freshman Christina Misiur (Sayreville, N.J.) came in as a pinch hitter and blasted a three-run homerun as the Cougars pushed ahead 12-3.
 
Senior Sydney Ponto (West Deptford, N.J.) improved to 4-0 in the CACC Tournament as she tossed a complete game. Ponto (29-4) allowed three run (one earned) and struck out six in the win.
 
Ponto struck out 24 batters in 20 innings in the CACC Championships to earn Tournament MVP honors. Monasseri, Testa and Silva joined Ponto on the All-Tournament Team.
 
The Cougars will await their seeding on the NCAA D2 Softball Selection Show, which will be streamed live via ncaa.com on Monday, May 8 at 10 am.