WILMINGTON, Del.- The Caldwell University softball team sweep a doubleheader against Goldey-Beacom College as the Cougars opened their 2021 season with a pair of Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victories. The Cougars won the opener 12-4 in six innings and took the nightcap 10-1 in five innings.
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The Cougars open their season at 2-0 and 2-0 in the CACC, while the Lightning open their season at 0-2 and 0-2 in conference play.
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Caldwell took the lead in the third inning with three runs. Sophomore
Taylor Mischler (Endicott, N.Y.) drove in a pair of runs with triple. Junior
Chloe VanGorder (Harveys Lake, Pa.) added a run scoring single in the inning for a 3-0 lead.
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The Cougars tacked on six runs in the fourth as freshman
Samantha Nuneviller (Harleysville, Pa.) drove in a run with a single. Senior
Paige Sandoval (Alisa Viejo, Calif.) added a two-run single in the inning, while sophomore
Courtney Grundhauser (Easton, Pa.) drove in a run with a single.
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The Lightning added a pair of runs in the fifth inning to cut the score to 9-2. Caldwell pushed across three runs in the sixth as Grundhauser singled in one run, while freshman
Gabriella DeLuca (North Smithfield, R.I.) doubled in a run. Goldey-Beacom scored two in the sixth but the Cougars prevailed in the opener.
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Junior pitcher
Mariah Culver (Owego, N.Y.) tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and struck out one to earn the win.
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In the nightcap, Caldwell plated five runs in the second inning. The Cougars took advantage of errors in the inning to score two runs and added a run on a wild pitch.
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In the third, the Cougars added three runs as freshman
Paige Silvia (Taunton, Mass.) drove in two runs with a single. Freshman
Chloe Pocceschi (Annandale, N.J.) pushed across a run with a ground out.
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Caldwell tacked on two runs in the fifth as sophomore
Danielle Kroll (Tinton Falls, N.J.) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Mischler added a run scoring single for a 10-0 lead. The Lightning got a run back in the fifth but the Cougars were able to complete the sweep.
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Junior
Kayla Daly (Babylon, N.Y.) tossed four scoreless innings, allowing one hit with for strikeouts to earn the win.
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The Cougars travel to St. Thomas Aquinas College on Monday, March 23 for a non-conference doubleheader at 2:30 pm.
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