CALDWELL, N.J. – The Philadelphia University softball team was swept by host Caldwell, by the same 11-3 score in five innings, in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) doubleheader Saturday afternoon on Caldwell Field.

Philadelphia is now 15-5 overall and 6-4 in CACC play. Caldwell, the 14^th ranked team in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, improves to 17-1 overall and a perfect 7-0 against the CACC.

GAME ONE

Sophomore right fielder Kasia Smith (Waddell, Ariz./Estrella Foothills), freshman first baseman Gabrielle Brown (Shillington, Pa./Governor Mifflin), and sophomore designated player Renee Kakareka (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) all were perfect at the plate in the opener. Smith was 3-for-3, while Brown and Kakareka were 2-for-2.

Alyssa Calderon led the Cougars' 11-hit attack with a 4-for-4 effort and five RBIs.

The Cougars jumped out to a 5-0 lead with two runs in the first and three runs, including a two-run double by Kristen Knorr, in the second.

Philadelphia fought back to score three times in the third to cut the Caldwell lead to 3-2. Junior shortstop Stephanie Martin (Hanover, Md./Seton Keough) and Smith had RBI singles during the rally.

Caldwell came back with four runs in the fourth inning thanks to a two-RBI double by Calderon and RBI base hits from Gracie Sullivan and Lauren Frye. In the fifth, Calderon had a RBI single to right field and Megan Fryday drove in a run with an infielder single to end the game.

Amber Padilla was the winning pitcher (6-1) as she struck out three, while allowing three runs on eight hits over the five innings. Junior Nicole Troisi (Norristown, Pa./Norristown Area) took the loss (5-2), allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits in 1.2 innings.

GAME TWO

The Rams led 2-1 after scoring twice in the top of the second innings. Smith connected for a solo home run, her second of the season, to tie the game at one. With runners at second and third, sophomore catcher Mollie Burrell (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area) laid down a sacrifice bunt to plate Troisi and give the Rams the lead.

Knorr single-handedly put the Cougars back in front 4-2 in the home half of the second. She came through with a two-run triple to right-center field to give the home team a 3-2 advantage. Knorr was able to score Caldwell's fourth run on a wild pitch.

After the Rams got one back in the top of the third on a Troisi fielder's choice, the Cougars pushed three more runs across the plate to give them a 7-3 lead after three. Frye had a RBI sacrifice fly and Jacklyn Bates added a RBI single.

Caldwell scored three times in the fourth and ended the game with a Brielle Reighn RBI double in the bottom of the fifth.

Reighn and Fryday had three hits each for the Cougars, while Knorr and Bates recorded two each.

Five different Rams one hit each.

Sydney Ponto was the winning pitcher (7-0) as she struck out four and gave up three runs, one earned, on five hits. Smith suffered the loss (3-2) after giving up 10 runs, eight earned, on 12 hits in 3.2 innings.

Philadelphia heads to Georgian Court for a CACC doubleheader on Sunday, April 6 at noon.