LAKEWOOD, N.J.- The Caldwell University softball team split a twin bill with co-conference leader Georgian Court University in a clash of the top two teams in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. Caldwell took the opener 2-1, while the Lions won the nightcap 10-2 in six innings.
 
The Cougars move to 31-8 overall and 17-3 in the CACC, while Lions stand at 29-13 and 17-3 in conference play.
 
In the opener, senior Mariah Culver (Owego, N.Y.) tossed a complete game, allowing one run in six hits and struck out a season-high 10 batters.
 
Caldwell got on the board in the third as freshman Jessica Klein (Trevose, Pa.) doubled with one out and moved to third on a groundout. Senior Maya Rodriguez (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) hit a sacrifice fly to put Caldwell up 1-0. Georgian Court answered in their half of the inning to pull even at 1-1.
 
The Cougars scored the go-ahead run in the freshman Ashleigh Tavaska (Jackson, N.J.) singled with one out and moved to third on a single. Graduate Paige Sandoval (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) hit a sacrifice fly for a 2-1 lead. Culver closed it out in the seventh to improve to 13-2.
 
In the nightcap, Caldwell took the early lead as Klein led off with a single and stole second. Freshman Allison Winters (Blairstown, N.J.) singled to score Klein for a 1-0 lead. The Lions got two runs in their half of the inning to pull ahead 2-1.
 
The Cougars tied the game in the second as senior Chloe VanGorder (Harveys Lake, Pa.) connected on a solo homerun. Georgian Court took the lead in their half of the second and scored run in all six innings.
 
The Cougars travel to Pace University for a non-conference doubleheader on Sunday, April 24 at noon.