Lakewood, N.J.- The regular-season portion of the schedule concluded Sunday for the Georgian Court University softball squad split with first-Caldwell College in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action. The Lions triumphed in the opener, 3-2, before the Cougars, the #10 team in the nation, tamed GCU in the nightcap, 5-1.

GAME ONE

Georgian Court (27-20, 19-7 CACC) plated the initial run of the opener on a run-inducing single to right-center by 1B Emma Erbig in the home half of the first. The Cougars swiped the lead from the Lions in the top of the third after a two-out fielding blunder by GCU resulted in a second life for Caldwell at the dish. 1B Brielle Reighn (So.-Runnemeade, N.J.) took advantage of that opportunity by lacing a two-run double, resulting in two unearned runs.

After a scoreless fourth frame, the Lions regained the advantage in the bottom of the fifth when SS Briana Molino blooped an eventual game-winning two-run single into left-center to make the score 3-2 GCU.

Freshman Abby Merryman dazzled in the circle for Georgian Court, permitting two runs (0 ER) on five hits (2 K), improving to 9-6 in the complete-game effort. Caldwell's Amber Padilla (So.-Chino, Calif.) dropped to 13-3 on the year after yielding three runs (3 ER) on nine hits and a walk (4 K) in 6.0 IP.

Erbig was perfect at the plate for GCU, going 3-for-3 in the game. CF Dara Schroeder and Molino contributed 2-for-3 efforts.

GAME TWO

A dinger off the bat of Caldwell SS Megan Fryday (Jr.-San Marcos, Calif.) provided the Cougars with a 1-0 lead in the top of the second in the nightcap. A two-spot in both the fifth and sixth stanzas increased the lead to 5-0 for the visitors. GCU plated a lone run in the last of the seventh on a double by 2B Justine Mattia, but that would be the extent of the Lions' comeback.

Caldwell's Sydney Ponto (Fr.-West Deptford, N.J.) moved to 14-2 after allowing the one run (1 ER) on five hits and a walk (4 K) in seven complete. Tina Morgan fell to 7-5 after permitting five runs (3 ER) on eight hits and walk (4 K) over six innings of work.

RF Alyssa Paradiso went 2-for-3 for GCU in the setback.

Georgian Court now awaits to see how the standings settle before knowing its first-round opponent in this week's 2014 CACC Softball Championship Tournament, hosted by GCU. Day One is slated for this Thursday, May 1, with contests scheduled for 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. ( 8 games total).