WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Junior 2B Grace Vondracek (Odessa, N.Y.) rapped out six hits and scored five runs, and junior SS Ashleigh Tavaska (Jackson, N.J.) had five, scoring three and driving in two more, as Caldwell earned a split of two games, its final contests at THE Spring Games in Florida. A late comeback fell short in the opener, an 11-8 loss to Northern State, while  a seven-run first led to a run-rule win over New Haven, 15-5, in the nightcap.

In the opener, the NSU (11-4) bats were on fire, building a 10-2 lead in the middle of the fifth. But the Cougars staged a furious rally, scoring three in the fifth on an RBI single by freshman catcher Taylor Quinn (Colonie, N.Y.) and a two-run hit by graduate 3B Riley Riendeau (Lincoln, R.I.). Then after Northern added an insurance marker, the Cougars bats again came alive in the home half of the seventh, with RBI by Riendeau, senior LF Chloe Pocceschi (Annandale, N.J.) and freshman LF Brooke Freschi (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J.) bringing the tying run the the plate with one out. But the final two Cougars were retired to end the game.

The offensive momentum kept up vs. New Haven, the seven run outburst on a string of singles and doubles which included two hits by junior right fielder Jessica Klein (Trevose, Pa.) and RBI by five different Cougars in the inning.

Steals of home by Riendeau in the second and freshman pinch runner Amanda Batista (Carteret, N.J.) and a booming double by Vondracek made it 10-1 and the Cougars would cruise to the win, shortened to six inning by the eight-run rule.

Freshman righthander Katie O'Connor (Charlottesville, Va.) went the first five, fanning six, to earn her third win of the season for Caldwell (5-5).

Quinn finished with four hits, three runs scored and three RBI on the day, while Martin belted out four hits and Riendeau three, scoring three runs and driving in three others.

Caldwell returns North to take on Assumption in a pair of doubleheaders at Caldwell Athletic Field, Saturday (1 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m.)