CHAMPS! Softball Captures First-Ever CACC Title With 5-1 Win Over Top-Seeded Caldwell

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NEW CASTLE, Del. – CHAMPS! For the first time ever, the University of Bridgeport's softball team stands atop the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC). The Purple Knights captured the 2026 CACC title with a 5-1 win over top-seeded Caldwell on Saturday afternoon in New Castle, Del., finishing off a perfect unbeaten run through the tournament at 5-0. UB now heads into the NCAA East Regional sporting a 33-18 overall record.

The duo of CACC Player of the Year Mya Jones and tournament Most Outstanding Player Vise Zarate once again led the way for Bridgeport in the biggest game of the season.

Jones wasted little time setting the tone, blasting a solo home run to left field in the top of the first inning to give UB an early 1-0 lead. She continued her sensational afternoon from there, finishing a perfect 4-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored while also adding an RBI double in the fourth inning.

Zarate was equally dominant in the circle. The senior right-hander tossed her 17th complete game of the season while allowing just one unearned run on seven hits. She struck out three batters without issuing a walk as she improved to 19-8 on the year.

Her performance capped off one of the most dominant tournament pitching runs in recent conference history. Across UB's five victories in the CACC Tournament, Zarate went a perfect 5-0 while allowing just three earned runs over 30.0 innings pitched. She surrendered only three walks while striking out 14 batters during the stretch.

The Purple Knights added to their lead in the second inning when Nathalie Mongrain delivered an RBI single to score McKenzie Morgan.

Caldwell answered with an unearned run in the bottom half of the frame, but UB broke the game open in the fourth inning with three more runs.

Sophia Philippou scored after reaching on a Caldwell error before Sydnee Perreault forced another Cougar miscue that plated an additional run. Jones then followed with her RBI double to push the advantage to 5-1.

Bridgeport and Caldwell each finished with seven hits, but the Purple Knights capitalized on three Cougar errors while playing a clean defensive game of their own.

Jones and Zarate were both named to the CACC All-Tournament Team following the championship victory and were joined by Perreault, Philippou, Morgan and Breanna Pelaez.

Perreault wrapped up the tournament hitting .400 (8-for-20) with 10 RBIs, three doubles, two home runs and a triple across the five victories. Philippou shined throughout the week as well, highlighted by a 4-for-6 showing during UB's first-round sweep of Goldey-Beacom while also homering in the Purple Knights' semifinal win over Caldwell.

Pelaez registered at least one hit in all five tournament games, batting 7-for-18 with a pair of walks, while Morgan drove in five runs and handled all 33 innings behind the plate during the championship run.

UP NEXT
The Purple Knights, who have now won nine games in a row, will learn their NCAA Tournament Draw on Monday during the NCAA Selection Show at 10 a.m.