NEW CASTLE, Del. (May 8, 2026) – The University of Bridgeport and Caldwell University will compete for the 2026 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference softball championship on Saturday. No. 3 seed Bridgeport advanced through the winners’ bracket and No. 1 seed Caldwell survived the elimination bracket during Friday’s play in the CACC Championship tournament at Asbury Field. The double-elimination final round of the event is being hosted by Wilmington University.
Tournament information is available at the CACC Championship Central web page at https://caccathletics.org/tournaments/?id=30.
Saturday’s championship final will begin at 11 a.m. at Asbury Field. Should Caldwell emerge victorious, a second game would immediately follow. The winner not only will be named the CACC champion but will earn the conference’s automatic berth into the NCAA Division II Championship tournament.
Bridgeport locked up its spot in the final with a 6-2 victory over Caldwell in Friday’s opening game. The Cougars rebounded for an 8-7 triumph over No. 2 seed Felician University to earn a rematch with the Purple Knights on Saturday.
Bridgeport has reached the CACC final for the second time in its four years as a conference member. The Purple Knights won three East Coast Conference titles, most recently in 2022. Caldwell will be seeking its ninth CACC championship and first since 2018. The Cougars and Purple Knights split a regular-season doubleheader on April 15 in Bridgeport, Conn.
Tickets for the championship final 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. 3 BRIDGEPORT 6, No. 1 CALDWELL 2
Vise Zarate pitched a complete game for the Purple Knights (32-18), allowing seven hits and one walk while striking out three batters. She was staked to an early lead on a second-inning three-run home run by Sydnee Perreault. Sophia Philippou also homered and Perreault finished 2 for 3 for Bridgeport. Caldwell’s Emily Kurth and Emerson Jarrard had two hits each.
No. 1 CALDWELL 8, No. 2 FELICIAN 7
The teams were tied, 5-5, after six innings. The Golden Falcons brought home two runs in the top of the seventh on a triple by Kelsey Vitalis. But in the home half, the Cougars (29-18) put two runners on with one out. A throwing error following an infield single tied the game and put the potential winning run on third base, setting up Arlette Batista for a walk-off single. Caldwell had earlier erased a 4-1 deficit. Emerson Jarrard and Emily Tavaska each drove in a pair of Caldwell runs. Kimberly Torres went 3 for 3 with a triple and home run for Felician (26-24)
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 vs. Caldwell, 11 a.m.
Game 7: Bridgeport vs. Caldwell, 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.