COUGARS SOFTBALL

COKER, DAHL, SAUNDERS GARNER CACC WEEKLY AWARDS

5-8-06
CALDWELL, N.J. - Caldwell College senior Amy Coker (Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville) was named the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Softball Player of the Week, and pitchers Anna Dahl (Lindenwold, NJ/Camden Catholic) and Jessica Saunders (Glen Burnie, MD/Archbishop Spaulding) were chosen the CACC co-Pitchers of the Week for the week ending May 7, the conference announced today. The three players played key roles in helping the Cougars win their third consecutive CACC Tournament this past weekend.

Coker was selected the tournament's Most Valuable Player after driving in the game-winning runs in the sixth inning with a two-run single that broke a 1-1 tie and gave Caldwell the lead for good in the title game against Dominican on Saturday. In the top-half of the sixth, Coker came up with an outstanding defensive play when she caught a hard-hit ball from Sarah Beck, then threw to first to double up Katie Farrugia and thwart a potential rally. Coker also went 1 for 3 in Friday's game against Dominican, which the Cougars won 9-3.

Dahl earned victories in two games, including Saturday's title-clinching win. Against Dominican, she pitched six innings and allowed six hits and one run. Dahl also tossed 6 2/3 innings of scoreless relief in a 14-inning, 1-0 victory over Bloomfield College on Thursday. This is the second time this season that Dahl has been named CACC Pitcher of the Week.

Saunders started the marathon against Bloomfield, striking out a career-high 16 batters in 7 1/3 shutout innings. She then tossed a complete game in the Cougars' first win over Dominican on Friday, yielding eight hits and three runs while striking out seven. Saunders put an exclamation point on the weekend, earning her first save of the season by striking out the side in the seventh inning with two runners on base. Saunders has received the conference's weekly honor three times this season and five times in her career.

The Cougars, who have won 10 straight, will participate in the NCAA Division II Northeast Region Tournament for the third year in a row, beginning Thursday, May 11. Fourth-seeded Caldwell will open with fifth-seeded UMass.-Lowell at Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I. Game times have yet to be announced.

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