COUGARS SOFTBALL

COUGARS WRAP UP REGULAR SEASON WITH SWEEP OF DEVILS

4-30-06
CC 4, USP 3 (9 inn.)
CC 9, USP 0
CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College softball team, ranked 13th nationally, finished up its regular season schedule with a sweep of the University of Sciences on Senior Day in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Caldwell Field. The Cougars needed an RBI single from senior Sara Neely (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) in the bottom of the ninth to win the first game, 4-3, before rolling to a 9-0 victory in game two. Caldwell is now 33-15 on the season and 19-3 in the conference heading into next week's CACC Tournament, held at Caldwell Field May 4-6. The Devils finish their season 4-37, 2-20 CACC.

The Cougars opened the day with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore Nicole Bodrog (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) scored on a passed ball, then junior Stacy Falkowski (Horseheads, NJ/Horseheads) came home on a double by senior Gina D'Amico (Turnersville, NJ/Washington Twp.). The Devils tied the game with two unearned runs in the top of the sixth, when Ashley Tobin and Samantha Lavooy each had RBI singles. Caldwell had an opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with two out. But Laura Flint recorded a strikeout to send the game into extra innings.

After neither team scored in the eighth inning, the teams used the international tie-breaker rule in the ninth, which places a runner on second base to start the inning. Tobin sacrificed Carolynn Snavely to third, then after a strikeout, Laura Hamilton singled to score Snavely and put the Devils up 3-2. Sophomore Alyssa Speno (Waterloo,NY/Waterloo) started the bottom of the ninth with a single, moving senior Katie Jackson (Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville) to third. Junior Jackie Velardi (Belleville, NJ/Belleville) popped up to third, then D'Amico followed with an RBI single that scored Jackson and tied the game at 3-3. D'Amico stole second and advanced to third on a failed squeeze play in which Speno was thrown out at home. Neely stepped up and in her final regular-season home game, singled to score D'Amico and win the game. She finished with two hits in the game.

Senior Jessica Saunders (Glen Burnie, MD/Archbishop Spaulding) pitched all nine innings for Caldwell, allowing seven hits and no earned runs while striking out 10 to improve to 14-7.

In the second game, the Cougars did away with the drama, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the first inning. Falkowski and Velardi each had run-scoring doubles, D'Amico hit a two-run single, senior Kim Birmingham (Pine Hill, NJ/Overbrook) hit a sacrifice fly that scored Velardi, and sophomore Carrie Flasphaler (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) had an RBI single and later scored on a wild pitch. Jackson capped off Senior Day with a two-run home run to left in the fourth inning. It was Jackson's team-leading ninth home run of the season.

Junior Anna Dahl (Lindenwold, NJ/Camden Catholic) and freshman Ceci Goforth (Houston, TX/St. Agnes Academy) combined for the shutout, allowing just one hit.

The wins marked the final regular season home games for seniors Birmingham, D'Amico, Jackson, Neely, Saunders, Amy Coker (Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville) and Kristi Godfrey (West Babylon, NY/West Babylon). The Class of 2006 has won 150 games, captured three straight CACC regular-season titles, two CACC Tournament crowns and a Northeast Region Tournament banner. So far, the Cougars have turned in a record of 150-52 during the past four seasons.

The seven seniors will try to propel Caldwell to its third consecutive CACC Tournament championship next week, when the Cougars host the conference tourney starting Thursday, May 4 at Caldwell Field.

Back to the Softball page