LAKEWOOD, NJ- On a picturesque spring Sunday afternoon, Georgian Court University and Caldwell College renewed its classic CACC softball rivalry with the Cougars sweeping a pair from the host-Lions, 5-3 and 7-4, and improving to 32-9 (18-2 CACC) on the season. The Lions, coming off a season-high 11-game winning streak, have now lost three straight and fall to 28-18 (14-6 CACC).


GAME ONE

A four-run fourth inning from Caldwell spoiled a 2-1 advantage for Georgian Court and secured the first game victory for the Cougars.  The Lions snagged an immediate 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when 3B Kelsey Cutler ripped a single up the middle to plate CF Dara Schroeder, who led off the game with a single to right and advanced to second on a Jen Tartaglia sacrifice bunt before coming around to score.

The two clubs would exchange runs in the third inning before Caldwell connected with it's knockout punch in the fourth inning, which included seven of the Cougars' 16 knocks in the contest. Seven players in the Caldwell lineup enjoyed multi-hit efforts, including CF Kristen Knorr (3-4, R, RBI); 2B Dia Cascone (2-for-5, 2 R); C Alyssa Calderon (2-for-4, 2 RBI); RF Nicole Velardi (2-for-4); DP Marisa Tamez (2-for-4); 3B Sara Zambelli (2-for-4, R); and LF Katie Margiotta (2-for-4, R).

Freshman 1B Brianna Gaspich contributed a two-run double in the fourth inning (1-for-5)  for the Cougars.

Cutler topped the GCU offense with her 3-for-4 showing, including a run and two RBI. Schroeder (2-for-4) and P Brooke Hull (2-for-4) each earned a pair of hits. SS Ashlynn Thompson recorded an RBI single in the third inning for the Lions.

Kourtney Wilson took the win for Caldwell in the circle, permitting three runs on on nine hits and two walks over seven frames. She also struck out two in the triumph. Hull fell to 23-10 on the year for GCU, yielding five runs (4 ER) on 16 hits and a walk over seven innings. The Lions' ace also struck out three.

GAME TWO

With a 4-1 lead headed into the bottom of the sixth inning of the nightcap, the Cougars appeared to be coasting to their second victory of the afternoon. GCU's Selina Santillo had other thoughts as she belted a one-out, three-run long ball to left-center in the sixth inning, the third home run of the year for the Lions' right-fielder.

With the score knotted at 4-4 in the top of the seventh, Caldwell quickly ended the stalemate with three runs and three of its 14 hits, essentially erasing the GCU comeback and solidifying the sweep for the Cougars.

Knorr finished the day going 7-for-9 at the plate after a 4-for-5 performance in game two. Zambelli (3-for-4, 2 R, RBI), Gaspich (2-for-5, 2 RBI) and SS Megan Fryday (2-for-4, R) also contributed multi-hit batting lines.

Santillo's home run concluded a 3-for-3 day for the GCU senior. 2B Rachel Ruch blasted her fourth home run of the year, a solo shot, in the third inning.

Hannah Walkinshaw yielded four runs on seven hits (0 BB) while striking out seven over seven innings for the Caldwell win. Illiana Teran (4-8) suffered the defeat for GCU in relief, permitting four runs (3 ER) on eight hits and two walks (2 K) in five innings of work.

GCU next travels to Holy Family University Tuesday afternoon for a CACC doubleheader.