WILMINGTON, Del.- The Caldwell University softball team earned a twin bill split against Wilmington University in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader. The Wildcats won the opener 17-11, while the Cougars rallied back to take the nightcap 2-1 in extra innings.
 
The Cougars move to 22-16 overall and 13-5 in the CACC, while the Wildcats stand at 28-12 and 16-4 in conference play.
 
In the opener, sophomore Kaileen Cain (Hauppauge, N.Y.) singled to drive in a run in the first inning. Junior Christina Misiur (Sayreville, N.J.) blasted a three-run homerun for a 4-0 lead.
 
Wilmington closed the gap with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Caldwell added two runs in the third as senior Carly Testa (Sicklerville, N.J.) belted a solo homerun. Sophomore Anyssia Ramirez (Brentwood, Calif.) drove in a run later in the inning as a fielder's choice.
 
The Wildcats rallied back with five-run third inning to pull ahead 8-6. Caldwell tied the game in the fourth with a Testa sacrifice fly and a Cain run scoring single.
 
Wilmington plated six runs in the fourth inning to push ahead 14-8. Caldwell pushed across three runs in the fifth as sophomore Paige Sandoval (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) singled and Ramirez walked to start the inning. Junior Daniela Solis (Wilmington, Del.) hit a three-run homerun to cut the score to 14-11. The Wildcats tacked on three runs over the final two innings.
 
Junior Sara Bearden (Ewing, N.J.) took the loss as she tossed 3 1/3 innings, allowing nine runs (four earned) on 12 hits. Junior Jessie Johnston (Livermore, Calif.) pitched 1/3 of an inning, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits. Freshman Kayla Daly (Babylon, N.Y.) pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits.
 
In the nightcap, the Wildcats took the lead with a run in the fourth inning.
 
Caldwell answered in the seventh inning as freshman Nora Conway (Chicago, Ill.) tied the game with a solo homerun to force extra innings.
 
The Cougars broke through in the ninth Ramirez was placed on second. She advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a wild pitch to put Caldwell ahead 2-1.
 
Freshman Mariah Culver (Owego, N.Y.) closed the door in the bottom of the inning to help Caldwell earn a split. Culver (10-9) tossed a complete game, allowing one run on five hits with five strikeouts.
 
The Cougars host conference leader Georgian Court University for a CACC doubleheader on Tuesday, April 16 at 2:30 p.m.