Caldwell, NJ – Lightning come close in battle with Caldwell College

The Lightning softball team went into battle yesterday with Caldwell College, and fell behind early, as the Cougars took a 4-0 lead after the first.  The Lightning bats kicked into gear in the second, with a leadoff single to right center by Danielle Rice.  After a couple of more hits, the Lightning found themselves on the board.  Danielle Rice again led the Lightning in the fourth inning, with a single up the middle to start a hitting frenzy, which included six hits in the fourth and fifth innings, and six runs to lead 7-5 after five innings. 

With the Lightning scoring another run in the sixth the Lightning were just six outs away from the win.  In the bottom of the sixth, Caldwell scored two runs to tie the game up at 8-8.  With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Caldwell got two hits to score the winning run. 

Danielle Rice led the Lightning with three hits, one run scored and one RBI, to go along with four putouts from behind the plate.  Heather Draper helped herself with three RBI's, as she pitched seven and two thirds innings and added seven assists.  Shannon O'Hara led defensively with eight putouts.

Shannon O'Hara started game two with a two-out home run to give the Lightning the early lead.  However, Caldwell tied the game in the bottom of the first, and continued their good fortune in the third and fifth innings, scoring four runs in each.  The Lightning struggled from the plate, and fell 9-1 to Caldwell.  Leah Bowman led the team with two hits, as their record drops to 11-7 overall, 2-2 in the CACC. 

The Lightning will next face off at Georgian Court University on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 2:30pm.