CALDWELL, N.J. -- Freshman 1B Emerson Jarrard (Carlsbad, Calf.) accounted for the Cougars offense with a mighty three-run home run in the third inning and junior RHP Katie O'Connor (Charlottesville, Va.) made it stand up with a nifty five-hitter as Caldwell University softball split a CACC doubleheader with three-time defending league champion Wilmington on Saturday at Caldwell Athletic Field. The Cougars took the opener, 3-2, while the Wildcats (16-24, 6-6 CACC) rallied to win the nightcap, 7-6.

In game one, Jarrard followed a leadoff triple by freshman LF Melissa Lugo (Gilroy, Calif.) and walk to junior CF Kenzie Nazionale (Ontario, Calif.) with her team-high third home run of the year, a no-doubter that cleared the right-center field wall to give CU (22-14, 12-2) a 3-1 lead. 

After Wilmington tied it in the fifth on its second successful squeeze bunt of the day, O'Connor stranded runners on second and third in the sixth with an inning-ending strikeout, then retired the side with just a one-out single in the seventh to win her 11th game in her last 12 decisions.

Nazionale had two hits, including a double, in the win.

Trailing, 4-0, in the bottom of the third of game two, Caldwell rallied for five runs, keyed by a three-run triple by sophomore 3B Emily Tavaska (Jackson, N.J.). CU would add to its lead in the fourth on Jarrard's double high off the left field wall, scoring Nazionale all the way from first.

But the Wildcats would score three in the sixth and hold off late Caldwell threats in the sixth and seventh to secure the win.

Caldwell next visits Dominican on Tuesday and Holy Family on Saturday to close out the CACC regular season.