WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Caldwell University softball team opened their 2023 season with a pair of losses to Palm Beach Atlantic University. The Sailfish took the opener 5-3 and rallied in their final at-bat to win the nightcap 4-3.
 
The Cougars open up at 0-2, while the Sailfish improve to 8-12.  
 
In the opener, the Sailfish scored three runs in the opening inning to take an early lead. Sophomore Ashleigh Tavaska (Jackson, N.J.) drove in a run with a groundout in the fourth, while sophomore Allison Winters (Blairstown, N.J.) scored on a PBA error.
 
The Sailfish scored two runs in the fifth with the Cougars rallying for one run back in the seventh but fell short of a comeback. Senior Maya Rodriguez (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) collected two hits with double in the opener.
 
Senior Mariah Culver (Owego, N.Y.) tossed four innings, allowing three runs on six hits with three strikeouts.
 
In the nightcap, the game was scoreless until the sixth when Caldwell broke through with a run, taking advantage of an error to score a run. The Sailfish got two runs in their half of the inning but the Cougars answered in the seventh.
 
Rodriguez singled in the tying run in the top of the seventh, while Tavaska put the Cougars ahead with a sacrifice fly. Palm Beach Atlantic rallied with two runs in their half of the inning to secure the win.
 
The Cougars continue their Florida trip as they travel to Barry University for a doubleheader in Sunday, March 12 at noon.