MELBOURNE, Fla.- Caldwell University softball sophomore Jessie Johnston (Livermore, Calif.) tossed a two-hit shutout in game two as the Cougars earned a split against Florida Tech. The Cougars came up short in the opener 5-1 but battled back to take game two 5-0.
 
The Cougars move to 3-7 on the season, while the Panthers stand at 17-13.
 
Caldwell got on the board in the second with a two-out rally. Junior Carly Testa (Sicklerville, N.J.) doubled and moved to third on a single by freshman Maya Rodriguez (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). The Cougars pulled off a double steal as Testa crossed the plate for a 1-0 lead.
 
Florida Tech pulled even in the third inning and added four runs in the sixth for a 5-1 lead. Sophomore Sara Bearden (Ewing, N.J.) tossed a complete game, allowing five runs (two earned) on six hits to fall to 1-3 on the season.
 
In the nightcap, the Cougars struck first in the third inning as freshman Anyssia Ramirez (Brentwood, Calif.) blasted a solo homerun to lead off the inning. Caldwell added a run in the fourth inning as freshman Paige Sandoval (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) singled and Rodriguez drew a walk. Senior Katelyn Johnson (Denville, N.J.) reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Ramirez singled to extend the Cougars lead to 2-0.
 
Caldwell tacked on three runs in the seventh as Ramirez was hit by a pitch and sophomore Melissa Rini (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) singled. Senior Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, N.J.) blasted a three-run homerun to push the Cougar lead to 5-0.
 
Johnston shined in the circle as she tossed a two-hit shutout, striking out three to improve to 2-4 on the season.
 
The Cougars wrap up their Florida trip as they return to the National Training Center for a pair of games on Thursday, March 15. Caldwell takes on West Chester University at 8 am and faces William Jewel College at 10:30 am.