GARDEN CITY, N.Y.- The Caldwell University softball team, seeded #8 in the East Region, rapped out 14 hits as they posted a 13-6 upset victory over top seed and host Adelphi University in the opening game of the NCAA Division II East Region 1 Tournament.
 
Caldwell wins their 11th in a row to improve to 35-16 while the Panthers drop to 30-20-1. The Cougars advance in the winner's bracket and will face #4 LIU Post on Friday, May 11 at 11 am.
 
Adelphi took the early lead with two runs in the opening inning.
 
Caldwell rallied back in the second as they loaded the bases with one out. Sophomore Melissa Rini (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) was hit by a pitch for force in a run. Senior Marisa Monasseri (Monroe, N.J.) singled in one run to tie the game at two. Freshman Maya Rodriguez (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) broke the tie with a three-run double to right-center. Junior Carly Testa (Sicklerville, N.J.) slammed a three-run homerun to left to push the Cougars ahead 8-2.
 
The Cougars added to their lead in the third as freshman Anyssia Ramirez (Brentwood, Calif.) connected on a solo homerun. Caldwell again loaded the bases as Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to a run. The Cougars added another run in the inning to extend their lead to 11-2.
 
The Panthers battled back with four runs in the to cut the score to 11-6. Caldwell added a pair of runs later in the game as Monasseri drove in a run in the fourth with a single. Testa added a run scoring single in the seventh for the Cougars
 
Sophomore Sara Bearden (Ewing, N.J.) improved to 19-7 as she tossed a complete game. She allowed six runs (three earned) on five hits, while striking out five to pace the Cougars to an opening day win in the NCAA DII East 1 Regional.
 
The Cougars are back in action on Friday, May 11 as they face #4 LIU Post in the winner's bracket at 11 am at Adelphi's Ficke Field.