COUGARS SOFTBALL

SAUNDERS, JACKSON RECEIVE CACC WEEKLY HONORS

5-9-05
CALDWELL, N.J. - Juniors Jessica Saunders (Glen Burnie, MD/Archbishop Spaulding) and Katie Jackson (Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville) were named the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively, the conference announced. The pair combined to help the Cougars (39-9) win the CACC Tournament for the second year in a row.

Saunders (16-5) earned victories in three of the four Cougar wins in the tournament and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. In the elimination game on Saturday, May 7, Saunders pitched all 12 innings in Caldwell's 2-1 win over Goldey-Beacom. She then started the title game against Georgian Court, just 2 1/2 hours after completing the game against the Lightning, and gave up one run and three hits in 4 2/3 innings. This is her second CACC Pitcher of the Week award this season for Saunders, who was also selected to the all-CACC first team.

Jackson batted .667 (8-for-12) with a homer and four RBI in the CACC Tournament. With the Cougars needing a run to extend the game against Goldey-Beacom in the bottom of the eight, Jackson hit a two-out, two strike RBI single to keep her team alive. She then hit a three-run home run in the first game with Georgian Court, a 5-2 Cougar victory. This is also the second CACC weekly honor for Jackson, a three-time all-CACC performer who was also the NFCA/Louisville Slugger National Division II Player of the Week earlier this season.

Jackson and Saunders will lead the Cougars into this week's NCAA Division II Northeast Region Tournament, held May 12-15 in Syracuse, N.Y.

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