CALDWELL, N.J. -- Graduate 3B Riley Riendeau (Lincoln, R.I.) had five hits, including 4-for-4 with three RBI in the opener, and junior 2B Grace Vondracek (Odessa, N.Y.) lined out four safeties as Caldwell softball split a pair of non-conference matchups wth Assumption at Caldwell Athletic field in its home openers on Saturday.

In game one, the Cougars (6-6) used a three-run first, punctuated by a two-run doubles by Riendeau and two in the third on junior 1B Brooke Martin's (Oakland, Maine), two-run two-bagger for a 5-0 lead. They build the advantage to 9-1 on a four-run fourth, capped by an RBI bunt single by senior LF Chloe Pocceschi (Annandale, N.J.).

But Assumption (3-7) battled back to within 9-8, before junior righty Allison Winters (Blairstown, N.J.) induced the game-ending flyout with the tying run at third base. 

In the nightcap, Caldwell again jumped to an early lead, this time 3-0 on RBIs by Vondracek, junior shortstop Ashleigh Tavaska (Jackson, N.J.) and junior Jessica Klein (Trevose, Pa.).

Freshman Taylor Quinn (Colonie, N.Y.), playing right field in game two, doubled in Vondracek for a 4-2 Cougars lead at the end of five, but the Greyhounds rallied in the last two innings to earn the split.

The twinbill also featured a matchup of Cougars Head Coach Lindsay Mayer against her sister, Stacey Mayer, the Greyhounds' leader.

The two teams meet again on the Caldwell Athletic Field diamond on Sunday for a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.