WILMINGTON, Del. -- Sophomore righthander Katie O'Connor (Charlottesville, Va.) tossed a four-hitter, striking out three, and senior 1B Brooke Martin (Oakland, Maine) drove in a run with a first-inning double as Caldwell softball gained a split of its CACC-season opening doubleheader at Goldey-Beacom on Saturday at Jackson Complex. 

After Martin's double driving in senior 2B Grace Vondracek (Odessa, N.Y.) gave the Cougars (1-10, 1-1 CACC) the early lead, a bit of baserunning derring-do doubled the advantage to 2-0 in the fifth when Vondracek stole second and freshman pinch hitter Sam DiDonna (Staten Island, N.Y.) scored on the ensuing throwing error.

O'Connor made the lead stand up, a sixth-inning solo homer the only blemish on the scoreboard. She left the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the seventh, inducing an infield popout and getting a called third strike to end the game.

The host Lighning (15-5, 1-1) won the opener, 8-0, shortened to five innings. 

Caldwell hosts Assumption in the home opener on Sunday at 11 a.m. at Caldwell Athletic Field.