CALDWELL, N.J.- The Caldwell University softball team came up short in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader against Georgian Court University. The Cougars fell in the opener 9-1 and the Lions pushed across an extra inning run in the nightcap for a 9-8 victory.
 
The Cougars fall to 6-7-1 overall and 6-7 in the CACC, while the Lions improve to 16-2 and 10-0 in conference play.
 
In the opener, Caldwell broke through in the third inning as freshman Valerie Joaquin (Long Beach, Calif.) drew a one-out walk. Joaquin moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and came around to score on a double by sophomore Taylor Mischler (Endicott, N.Y.).
 
The Cougars held the lead until the sixth when Georgian Court scored six runs. The Lions added three in the seventh inning.
 
Junior Mariah Culver (Owego, N.Y.) took the loss, pitching seven innings, allowing nine runs (seven earned) on 10 hits with five strikeouts.
 
In the nightcap, Georgian Court took the lead with a run in the second inning. Georgian Court added two runs in the fourth and two in the sixth for a 5-0 lead.
 
The Cougars battled back in the sixth as Mischler drove in the first Caldwell run with a double. Senior Anyssia Ramirez (Brentwood, Calif.) cut the score to 5-3 with a two-run double.
 
Georgian Court answered in the top of the seventh as they added three runs for an 8-5 lead. Caldwell battled back in their half of the inning with a two-out rally. Mischler drew a walk, while sophomore Courtney Grundhauser (Easton, Pa.) reached base on an infield single. Junior Chloe VanGorder (Harveys Lake, Pa.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
 
Junior Emma Cooney (Livingston, N.J.) walked to force in a run to cut the score to 8-5. Senior Paige Sandoval (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) cleared the bases with game-tying double to right to tie the score at 8-8 and force extra innings.
 
The Lions pushed across a run with two-outs in the eighth and held the Cougars off the board in their half of the inning.
 
Junior Kayla Daly (Babylon, N.Y.) tossed 6 2/3 innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on 10 hits with five strikeouts to fall to 2-3.
 
The Cougars host Queens College for a pair of non-conference games on Thursday, April 15 at 2:30 pm.