CALDWELL RALLIES FOR SWEEP OF NEW HAVEN
4-2-06
CC 5, UNH 2
CC 4, UNH 3 (9 inn.)
CALDWELL,
N.J. - The Caldwell College softball team earned a pair of comeback
victories to sweep the University of New Haven in a non-conference
doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Caldwell Field. The Cougars, who won 5-2
and 4-3 in nine innings, improved to 14-8 on the season, while the Chargers
dropped to 12-13-1. Junior Stacy Falkowski (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads),
left, drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth of the second
game to give the Cougars the sweep.
New Haven put runs on the board in the first and third innings to take the
early lead. Carolyn Fruin led off the game with a triple, then scored
on a double by Lisa Ramos. Samira Ibrahim's RBI single in the third gave the
Chargers a 2-0 advantage. The Cougars answered in the bottom of the fourth
inning with four runs on RBI singles from senior Kim Birmingham (Pine
Hill, NJ/Overbrook) and sophomore Carrie Flasphaler (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads),
and a two-run single by junior Jackie Velardi (Belleville,
NJ/Belleville). Sophomore Alyssa Speno (Waterloo, NY/Waterloo) drove
in senior Sara Neely (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) in the bottom of the
sixth for Caldwell's final run.
Senior pitcher Jessica Saunders (Glen Burnie, MD/Archbishop
Spaulding) struck out a season-high 13 batters, including six straight at
one point, to improve to 6-3 on the season. Saunders allowed seven hits and
two runs while walking two in a complete-game effort.
The second game remained scoreless through five innings until New Haven
broke through with three runs in the sixth. The Chargers, who managed just
one hit in the inning, benefited from four Cougar errors, as all three runs
against Caldwell starter Kristen de la Campa (Whitman, MA/Whitman
Hanson) were unearned. But the Cougars atoned for their mistakes in the
field with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 3-3. An
RBI triple by Falkowski knocked home senior Kristi Godfrey (West
Babylon, NY/West Babylon) for the Cougars' first run. Senior Gina D'Amico
(Turnersville, NJ/Washington Twp.) followed with a double to left
centerfield, scoring sophomore Meghan Johnston (Kirkland, WA/Lake
Washington), who pinch-ran for Falkowski. Then with two outs and D'Amico on
second, Flasphaler tripled to left field, tying the game at 3-3.
Neither
team scored in the seventh, forcing extra innings. After a scoreless eighth
inning, each team began its half of the ninth inning with a runner on
second, using the international tie-breaker. New Haven was unable to bring
home Desiree Burpee in the top of the ninth. In the bottom of the inning
with Velardi on second, junior Desiree Wilson (Gloucester City,
NJ/Gloucester Catholic) sacrificed the runner to third with a bunt. After
Speno flied out to center for the second out, sophomore Nicole Bodrog
(Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) was hit by a pitch, and senior Katie Jackson
(Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville) walked to load the bases. Falkowski ended the
game with a single that just got by the outstretched glove of the shortstop
Fruin. She finished the game with two hits and a pair of RBIs to pace the
Cougars.
de la Campa gave up three hits and the three unearned runs in 5 2/3 innings
of work before giving way to junior Anna Dahl (Lindenwold, NJ/Camden
Catholic). Dahl , right, allowed just two hits in 3 1/3 innings to earn the
win and improve to 5-4.
The Cougars return to action on Wednesday, Apr. 5, with a Central Atlantic
Collegiate Conference doubleheader with Philadelphia University. The first
pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at Caldwell Field.
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