BOCA RATON, Fla.- Caldwell University softball graduate pitchers
Madison Burns (East Greenbush, N.Y.) and
Kayla Daly (Babylon, N.Y.) combined to toss a shutout in the opener as the Cougars split a twin bill against Lynn University. The Cougars cruised in the opener 7-0, while the Fighting Knights won the nightcap 5-4 in eight innings.
The Cougars move to 1-5, while the Fighting Knight stand at 15-14.
In the opener, sophomore
Ashleigh Tavaska (Jackson, N.J.) drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single in the first inning. Sophomore
Jessica Klein (Trevose, Pa.) drove in a run with a ground out in the second inning, while freshman
Olivia Magliacano (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) stole two bases in the inning, including stealing home for a 3-0 lead.
Magliacano added a two-run double in the fourth, while the Cougars added a third run in the inning on a passed ball. Senior
Emma Cooney (Livingston, N.J.) hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh to cap the scoring in the game.
Burns got the start, going 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing five hits to improve to 1-1. Daly tossed the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing no hits with one strikeout.
The Cougars jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the nightcap as Klein drove in a run on a groundout in the second inning. In the third, Cooney out Caldwell up 2-0 with a run scoring single.
Lynn rallied back with two runs in the fourth to tie the game and tacked on a run in the fifth to lead 3-2.
Caldwell battled back in the sixth as they loaded the bases with one out on three straight singles by Magliacano, sophomore
Brooke Martin (Oakland, Maine) and freshman
Alexa Lee (Blackwood, N.J.). Klein grounded out to drive in the tying run in the inning. The Cougar retook the lead in the seventh as freshman
Delaney Ridgell (Mt. Airy, Md.) singled and then stole second and third. Cooney gave Caldwell the lead with a run scoring single to put the Cougars back front 4-3.
Lynn tied the score with a run in their half of the seventh to force extra innings. The Fighting Knights pushed across the winning run in the eighth to earn the split.
The Cougars continue their Florida trip as they travel to Barry University for a doubleheader in Wednesday, March 15 at 5 pm.