NEW HAVEN, Conn. (May 4, 2026) – No. 5 seed and defending champion Wilmington University has joined the top three seeds in advancing to the four-team double-elimination round of the 2026 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Softball Championship tournament, to be contested May 7-9 in New Castle, Del. Caldwell University, Felician University, and the University of Bridgeport also moved on by winning best-of-three first-round series over the weekend.
Tournament information is available at the CACC Championship Central web page at https://caccathletics.org/tournaments/?id=30.
No. 2 seed Felician needed a third game to earn its spot in championship weekend. After splitting a doubleheader with No. 7 seed Thomas Jefferson University on Saturday in Nutley, N.J., winning the opening game, 5-3, before dropping a 14-4 decision, the Golden Falcons were victorious, 4-2, on Sunday to advance.
No. 1 seed Caldwell and No. 3 seed Bridgeport swept Saturday doubleheaders over visiting schools. The Cougars defeated No. 8 seed Post University, 10-2 and 9-0, in Caldwell, N.J., and the Purple Knights topped No. 6 seed Goldey-Beacom College, 8-0 and 7-5, in Bridgeport, Conn. Wilmington, meanwhile, traveled to No. 4 seed Holy Family University and earned a 6-2 victory on Saturday and a 7-3 triumph on Sunday in Bensalem, Pa.
Wilmington will host the remainder of the tournament at Asbury Field in New Castle. Caldwell and the Wildcats will begin the action at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 9, followed by Bridgeport taking on Felician at 1:30 p.m. The losers of those contests will meet in an elimination game at 4 p.m.
The tournament continues with two games on Friday at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. leading into Saturday’s championship round at 11 a.m. The winner of the 2026 CACC Softball Championship will earn the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA Division II East Region Championship tournament.
Tickets for each day of the 2026 CACC Softball Championship are $10 for adults, and $5 for children, senior citizens (65+) and students with valid identification. Children under three years of age will be admitted free. See the Championship Central link to follow the tournament online, purchase championship apparel, and buy tickets.
No. 1 CALDWELL 10-9, No. 8 POST 2-0
Kenzie Nazionale went 5 for 7 and scored four runs out of the Cougars leadoff spot. Caldwell (27-17) received strong pitching performances from Haleigh Fisher, who allowed one earned run in six innings in the opener, and Katie O’Connor, who fired a three-hit shutout in the nightcap. Post finishes 10-33.
No. 2 FELICIAN 5-4, No. 7 JEFFERSON 3-14
FELICIAN 4, JEFFERSON 2
After the teams split on Saturday, the Golden Falcons’ Jocelyn Moody went the distance on a four-hitter in Sunday’s victory. Kimberly Torres hit a leadoff home run to touch off a three-run first inning for Felician (25-22). Annika Smith also homered for the Golden Falcons, as did Sabrina Pastino for the Rams (20-25).
NO. 3 BRIDGEPORT 8-7, No. 6 GOLDEY-BEACOM 0-5
The Purple Knights (29-18) ended the first game in five innings with Vise Zarate tossing a three-hit shutout. Breanna Pelaez broke a 5-5 tie with a fourth-inning RBI single in the nightcap. Sydnee Perreault was 5 for 8 and drove in six runs on the day. McKenna Frank went 4 for 5 for the Lightning (20-19).
No. 5 WILMINGTON 6-7, No. 4 HOLY FAMILY 2-3
Addison Sabo was 4 for 6 with four RBI on the weekend to pace the Wildcats (22-26). Mia Lane collected three hits and drove in three runs in the pair of games. Wilmington scored four runs over the last three innings to pull away on Saturday, then struck four first-inning runs on Sunday. Kylee Jones hit a Game 1 home run and Rylee Hobel a Game 2 round-tripper for the Tigers (19-25).
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: Wilmington vs. Caldwell, 11 a.m.
Game 2: Bridgeport vs. Felician, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser, 4 p.m.
Friday, May 8 (at Asbury Field, New Castle, Del.)
Game 4: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner, 11 a.m.
Game 5: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser, 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 9 (at Asbury Field, New Castle, Del.)
Game 6: Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner, 11 a.m.
Game 7: Game 6 Winner vs Game 6 Loser, if necessary
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.