PHILADELPHIA, Pa.- The Caldwell University softball team suffered their first conference setbacks of the season as they fell in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference twin bill to Jefferson. The Rams took the opener 5-1 and won the nightcap 5-2.
 
The Cougars fall to 9-13 and 4-2 in the CACC, while the Rams improve to 10-14 and 5-5 in conference play.
 
The Rams took the early lead with three runs in the third and added two in the fourth. Freshman Lauren Stansell (Plantation, Fla.) and freshman Nora Conway (Chicago, Ill.) singled in the seventh. Sophomore Maya Rodriguez (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) singled to score Stansell for their lone run of game one.
 
Junior Sara Bearden (Ewing, N.J.) took the loss, pitching 3 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits with one strikeout. Freshman Kayla Daly (Babylon, N.Y.) tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit with two strikeouts.
 
In the nightcap, Jefferson took the lead with four runs in the second and added one run in the fourth.
 
Caldwell got a run in the fifth as they loaded the bases. Junior Daniela Solis (Wilmington, Del.) singled, while freshman Alaina Zavala (San Diego, Calif.) doubled. Conway drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Solis scored on a wild pitch.
 
The Cougars added a run in the sixth as senior Carly Testa (Sicklerville, N.J.) led off the inning with a double. Solis singled later in the inning to score Testa.
 
Freshman Mariah Culver (Owego, N.Y.) took the loss as she pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. Daly scored a scoreless 2/3 of an inning, while junior Jessie Johnston (Livermore, Calif.) pitched two scoreless innings.
 
The Cougars travel to Shippensburg University for a non-conference twin bill Sunday, March 31 at noon.