CALDWELL, N.J.- The Caldwell University softball team came up short to Molloy College in a non-conference doubleheader. Molloy took the opener 6-4 and won the nightcap 5-2.
 
The Cougars fall to 23-15, while the Lions improve to 27-17.
 
Molloy jumped out to a 4-0 lead over the first four innings. Caldwell battled back in the fourth as they loaded to bases. Sophomore Melissa Rini (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), senior Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, N.J.) and freshman Maya Rodriguez (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) each singled to start the inning.
 
Testa singled in one run, while two runs score on a single by freshman Kaileen Cain (Hauppauge, N.Y.) to cut the score to 4-3. Cain connected on a solo homerun in the sixth to tie the score at six. Molloy added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh and held off the Cougars in the final inning.
 
Sophomore Sara Bearden (Ewing, N.J.) pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on 10 hits with 10 strikeouts to fall to six. Sophomore Jessie Johnston (Livermore, Calif.) retired both batters she faced in the seventh.
 
Caldwell struck first in the nightcap as senior Kiahna Silva (Etiwanda, Calif.) led off the first with a solo homerun. Molloy answered in the third as they scored three runs to take a 3-1 lead.
 
Cain hit her second homerun of the day with a solo shot in the third. The Lions added a pair of runs in the fifth as held off Caldwell over the final two innings.
 
Johnston (11-8) allowed five runs on seven hits with six strikeouts in a complete game effort.
 
The Cougar travel to Holy Family University for a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader on Monday, April 23 at 2:00 pm.