PALISADES PARK, N.J. -- Graduate righthander Madison Burns (East Greenbush, N.Y.) scattered six hits and freshman catcher Delaney Ridgell (Mt. Airy, Md.) had two hits, drove in a run and scored another as Caldwell softball gained a split of its CACC doubleheader with Felician (24-13, 13-4 CACC) at Overpeck Park. Felician had won the opener on a walk-off, three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth.

Ridgell's single scored sophomore SS Ashleigh Tavaska (Jackson, N.J) for the first of three second-inning runs. Freshman center fielder Olivia Magliacano (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) and sophomore RF Jessica Klein (Trevose, Pa.) also plated runs to give Burns a 3-0 lead. She permitted just a fifth-inning unearned run, issuing no walks to earn her sixth win in eight decisions on the season.

Ridgell and senior left fielder Emma Cooney (Livingston, N.J.) had two hits each for Caldwell (21-10, 14-3).

In the opener, the Cougars dropped a heartbreaker, taking a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth of the pitchers' duel before a two-out, three-run home run spoiled a near victory. senior righty Mariah Culver (Owego, N.Y.) was dominant in the circle for the first seven innings, allowing just one unearned run and three hits before leaving the game to start the eighth. Senior 2B Courtney Grundhauser (Easton, Pa.) had two hits for the Cougars.

Caldwell steps out of league to take on St. Thomas Aquinas out of the ECC on Friday at 2 p.m at Caldwell Athletic Fields.