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WATERBURY, Conn. – The Post University softball team split with Caldwell University in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) doubleheader on Wednesday, Apr. 1. Caldwell placed just one spot out of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) top 25 ranking poll. The Cougars received 24 first place votes, missing a ranking by 10 votes.

Game One – Post 2, Caldwell 1
Senior Kaitlin Derby (Douglaston, N.Y.) got the nod for the Eagles in game one of the doubleheader. Derby pitched five strong innings, allowed just two hits and one unearned run to be the first Eagle to reach four wins.

Samantha Esque (Springfield, Pa.) came on in relief and shut the door with two scoreless innings. Esque notched her first save of the year in striking out two and holding the Cougar bats to one hit.

Post wasted no time and pushed one across in the bottom-half of the first inning on two hits. Sophomore Kristen Owens (Exton, Pa.) led off with a base knock and advanced to third on a long single to centerfield by first-year Korie McDonald (Middleboro, Mass.). First-year Emily Schaffer (Hazlet, N.J.) collected the RBI with a slap hit to the second baseman.

The Cougars capitalized on an Eagle fielding error to put a runner in scoring position in the third inning. With two-outs Brielle Reighn (Runnemeade, N.J.) served a double to left field to even the score at 1-1.

It was nothing doing for either team until Natalie Lennox (Landenberg, Pa.) roped a single to left field in the fifth inning. She advanced to third with two outs, and the Cougars chose to intentionally walk Schaffer to get to junior Kayla Kresley (Alburtis, Pa.). Kresley came up with a clutch single through the middle to give the Eagles a 2-1 advantage.

Sophomore Marissa Cammarano (Bedford, Mass.) flashed the leather in the top-half of the seventh with a diving catch to snare a liner and prevent a late inning comeback. The Eagles hung on to defeat Caldwell 2-1.

Game Two – Caldwell 5, Post 4
Junior Samantha Esque (Springfield, Pa.) got the start in the circle for the Eagles in game two of the doubleheader. Esque lasted 2.2 innings and allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits.

Schaffer came out of the bullpen and tossed 4.2 scoreless innings of one hit softball. In her last 27.2 innings, Schaffer has allowed just one earned run, and in her last 12 innings, she has given up just three hits.

The Cougars did all their damage in the top-half of the first inning, posting five runs on four hits, and two Eagle errors.

Post answered back in the bottom-half of the inning scoring two when first-year Nicole Venturini (Scituate, R.I.) rattled the right field fence with a triple.

Later in the bottom of the seventh, the Eagles were poised for a comeback, tacking on two runs to pull within one. McDonald singled up the middle and Kresley was hit by a pitch to account for both RBIs. Post worked the bases loaded with one out, but the Cougar defense held solid for the win.

Caldwell's Sydney Pronto (West Deptford, N.J.) was credited with the win, and Esque (3-3) with the loss. The Eagles are now 4-2 in conference play, and 10-10 overall on the season. Caldwell is 1-1 in the CACC and 7-9 overall.

On Deck: The action continues on Saturday, Apr. 4 when the Eagles play host to Holy Family University in another CACC doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.