NEW CASTLE, Del. (May 9, 2026) – No. 3 seed University of Bridgeport defeated No. 1 seed Caldwell University, 5-1, in the first game of the championship final of the 2026 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Softball Championship tournament on Saturday morning at Asbury Field. The event was hosted by Wilmington University.
A tournament summary is available at the CACC Championship Central web page at https://caccathletics.org/tournaments/?id=30.
Bridgeport wins its first CACC title in its fourth season as a conference member. The Purple Knights, who had won East Coast Conference crowns in 2019, 2021, and 2022, claim the CACC’s automatic berth into the NCAA East Regional Championship.
Bridgeport (33-18) received a complete-game pitching effort from Vise Zarate, who yielded only an unearned run on seven hits. Zarate was staked to an early lead on a solo home run by Mya Jones in the first inning and an RBI single from Nathalie Mongrain in the second. Caldwell cut the deficit in half on Mya Long’s run-scoring hit in the bottom of the second, but the Purple Knights broke the game open with a three-run fifth. Jones capped that rally with an RBI double.
Jones went 4 for 4 with two RBI to earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Zarate was named the tournament’s most valuable player after earning all five Purple Knight victories during the event with a 0.70 playoff earned-run average. Maddie Matkosky was 2 for 3 for the Cougars, who were denied their first CACC championship since 2018.
Bridgeport looks forward to the 2026 NCAA Division II Softball Selection Show on Monday at 10 a.m. Caldwell, which entered the tournament ranked fourth in the East Region, also hopes to hear its name called.
2026 CACC SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
First Round (Best-of-three series at sites of higher seeds.)
Saturday, May 2
#1 Caldwell 10-9, #8 Post 2-0
#2 Felician 5-4, #7 Jefferson 3-14
#3 Bridgeport 8-7, #6 Goldey-Becom 0-5
#5 Wilmington 6, #4 Holy Family 2
Sunday, May 3
Wilmington 7, Holy Family 3
Felician 4, Jefferson 2
Double-Elimination Tournament (Host: Wilmington University)
Thursday, May 7 (at Asbury Field, New Castle, Del.)
Game 1: Caldwell 5, Wilmington 4
Game 2: Bridgeport 7, Felician 4
Game 3: Felician 2, Wilmington 0
Friday, May 8 (at Asbury Field, New Castle, Del.)
Game 4: Bridgeport 6, Caldwell 2
Game 5: Caldwell 8, Felician 7
Saturday, May 9 (at Asbury Field, New Castle, Del.)
Game 6: Bridgeport 5, Caldwell 1
2026 CACC SOFTBALL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Olivia Hitchens, Wilmington
Addison Sabo, Wilmington
Brielle Cubala, Felician
Kimberly Torres, Felician
Arlette Batista, Caldwell
Emerson Jarrard, Caldwell
Kenzie Nazionale, Caldwell
Katie O'Connor, Caldwell
Mya Jones, Bridgeport
McKenzie Morgan, Bridgeport
Breanna Pelaez, Bridgeport
Sydnee Perreault, Bridgeport
Sophia Philippou, Bridgeport
Vise Zarate, Bridgeport
MVP: Vise Zarate, Bridgeport
Founded in 1961, the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference has been affiliated with NCAA Division II for 20 years. Conference institutions compete for championships in 17 sports – seven for men, nine for women, and one co-ed. The CACC contains 11 full members in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Membership includes the University of Bridgeport, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Dominican University New York, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Post University, Thomas Jefferson University, and Wilmington University.