Lakewood, N.J. - (5/2/2019) – Sixth-seeded, Chestnut Hill College fought to the bitter end in their first-ever Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Softball Championship Tournament appearance as they battled #3 Caldwell University and #7 Nyack College to respective 3-2 and 13-12 (8 innings) losses. Sophomore Kaley Wise (Hamilton, N.J.) held the Cougars scoreless in their first four at-bats, but late errors permitted Caldwell three run in their final two plate appearances. In game two, the Griffins used a seven-run seventh inning to force a high-scoring affair to extra innings. There, the Warriors capitalized on a leadoff single with a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch.

CACC SPRING CHAMPIONSHIP FESTIVAL PHOTO GALLERY
 
Chestnut Hill College (18-24) scored the first run of their contest with Caldwell University (32-21) thanks to a second-inning, two-out single from senior second baseman Alex Sauer (New Milford, N.J.), 1-0. Wise backed the tally with four clean innings as she surrendered only two Cougar hits in the first four innings. But in the fifth inning, Caldwell University used a leadoff single, a Griffin error, some heads-up base running, a fielder's choice, and a pair of one-out singles to take a 2-1 lead. The Scarlet and Gold got the run back in the top of the sixth inning thanks to a leadoff single from junior shortstop Alessandra Messina (Ambler, Pa.), a ground out, a sacrifice bunt from senior left fielder Ariel Magee (North Cape May, N.J.), and a pair of Cougar errors, 2-2. Unfortunately, a two-out beanball came back to hurt the Griffins in the bottom of the frame as a succeeding single, and a Chestnut Hill College error put Caldwell University back in the lead for good, 3-2.
 
Senior first baseman Kaya Swanek (Pittston, Pa.) (2-for-3) was the only Griffin to record multiple hits. She knocked in Chestnut Hill College's sixth-inning run with a two-out single to second base. Wise (11-9) allowed two earned runs on six hits, while striking out five in six innings of work.
 
In the second game, Nyack College (16-30) paced Chestnut Hill College to a 9-5 spread through the first six innings. They added three more runs in the top of the seventh inning to control a 12-5 lead with three outs to go, but the Griffins rallied with a seven-run at-bat that forced the extra frame. Chestnut Hill College's comeback began with a leadoff single from senior catcher Brielle Riotte (Elizabeth, N.J.). It continued with a two-run home run from Magee (12-7), a one-out single through the left side from Sauer, a two-run home run from junior designated player Cailey Stevenson (Burbank, Calif.) (12-9), a two-out error, and a trio of singles from sophomore centerfielder Devon Horner (Mt. Laurel, N.J.), Messina (12-11), and Riotte; 12-12. In the extra frame, Nyack College manufactured a run with a leadoff single, a sacrifice bunt, and a wild pitch, 13-12. Chestnut Hill College hoped to rally once more with a leadoff beamball to Swanek, a Sauer ground out, and a Stevenson single that put the tying run at third base. Unfortunately, after a Stevenson steal, the Warriors retired the final two Griffins with the winning run in scoring position.
 
Stevenson was 4-for-4 with three runs and two runs-batted-in (RBI). Meanwhile, Riotte was 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Horner (1-for-3, 1R) and Magee (1-for-5, 1R) also knocked in two runs apiece, but Messina (2-for-5, 1R, 1RBI) was the only other Griffin to record multiple hits. With her hit, Magee finished her collegiate career as the program's all-time hit leader with 127. Riotte, who finished the two-game playoff appearance 4-for-7 with two runs and two RBI, earned CACC All-Tournament Team recognition.
 
Chestnut Hill College finishes 2019 – their first season under Head Coach Pete Berrios – with their best overall and conference records at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II level; 18-24, 13-13 CACC.