CALDWELL, N.J. -- Senior shortstop Ashleigh Tavaska (Jackson, N.J.) and sophomore 1B Amanda Batista (Carteret, N.J.) had walk-off hits in the bottom of the fifth in the opener and nightcap, respectively, as Caldwell softball swept a twinbill from Chestnut Hill, 12-4 and 9-1, both shortened to five innings by the run rule at Caldwell Athletic Field on Saturday. The Cougars, who have won seven of their last nine, banged out 23 hits in 10 times at bat in the two CACC contests.

In the opener, Caldwell kept up its hot hitting from Friday, scoring three in the first and four in the third to take a 7-2 lead. A two-run double by freshman catcher Amanda Preston (Warwick, R.I.) extended CU's lead to 5-2, and after freshman RF Lexi Weiss (Norristown, Pa.) and senior 2B Grace Vondracek (Odessa, N.Y.) had RBI to give the hosts the five-run edge, the Cougars put it away with a five-run fifth, the key blow a bases-clearing, three-run double Tavaska that invoked the run rule.

Freshman righthander Haleigh Fisher (Smyrna, N.Y.) earned her first collegiate victory, tossing the first three innings. Tavaska, freshman DP Maddie Matkosky (Horseheads, N.Y.), sophomore LF McKenzie Nazionale (Ontario, Calif.) and Weiss had two hits each to pace the 12-hit attack.

In game two, it was more of the same as a six-run third broke a 1-1 tie as Caldwell cruised to the double run rule win. Aided by a trio of critical errors by CHC (9-13-1, 2-4 CACC, the decisive frame included RBI by Oller, Nazionale and Freschi, who also delivered an RBI single in the second inning to tie the game. Batista's booming triple plated freshman 2B Liza Mannarino (Albany, N.Y.) and soph Rianna Sparandero (Middletown, N.J.) with the winning runs.

Sophomore righthander Katie O'Connor (Charlottesville, Va.)  won her fifth straight decision, coming on in relief in the second with the bases loaded and no one out, getting out of the jam with just one run scoring, then limiting the Griffins no hits and just one baserunner over the rest of the game to move to 5-4.

The Cougars (6-12, 3-1) step out of CACC play, concluding their 10-game homestand with a doubleheader vs. Bentley on Sunday at noon, before resuming league play on Tuesday with a pivotal doubleheader at local rival Felician at 2:30 p.m. in Little Ferry, N.J.