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NEWARK, N.J. (March 4, 2016) - The Rutgers University-Newark softball program ushers in a new era on Sunday when the ladies take to the College of Staten Island diamond for the 2016 season-opener.

The Scarlet Raiders are coming off a strong end to the 2015 season, winning 10-of-14 games to finish the year with 18 victories, and they are also under the direction of first-year coach Kristen Hunt.

"We have been working hard throughout the fall and winter to get ready," said Hunt. "I think I speak for everyone when I say we are excited to get started and we are looking forward to the season."

Rutgers-Newark will battle CSI Sunday afternoon beginning at 12 p.m. and will then travel south to Clermont, Fla. for eight games against eight different teams in the Sunshine State.

Leading the Scarlet Raiders this year will be senior captain Kelsey Lucas who is the only returning upperclassman on the Rutgers-Newark roster. Lucas played in and started 38-of-38 games in 2015, hitting .281. She scored 28 tallies and drove in 18, racking up nine extra-base hits and compiling a .421 slugging percentage. A versatile player, Lucas will contribute primarily at shortstop early in the season and could also see assignments in center field and behind the plate.

"Kelsey is in her fifth year here at Rutgers-Newark and has been around the program for the entire time," added Hunt. "She has seen it all - ups and downs - she knows the conference, and she has done a fantastic job taking the underclassmen under her wing and showing them how to do things the right way."

Sophomore Kelly Yusko will be a major piece for the Scarlet Raiders after a remarkable freshman season in which she contributed in every aspect. A first-team All-New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) pick, Yusko led the conference with a .484 batting average, recording 100 total bases and hitting a single-season program-record nine homers. She tallied a single-season record 59 hits and drove in a team-high 46 runs, slugging .820 and finishing the year with a ridiculous 1.308 OPS (on-base plus slugging).

Yusko also was also the team's No. 1 pitcher and should serve in that role this season, going 11-8 in 18 starts (23 appearances) with a 3.77 earned-run average. She sent down 84 batters via the strikeout and had 18 complete games, including a trio of shutouts.

Joining Yusko in the circle will be sophomore Morgan Walizer. Walizer had a solid 2015 campaign and has worked hard to improve throughout the offseason. She won five games as a rookie and had a 4.12 ERA, tossing three complete games and hurling 71.1 innings. She struck out 30 in 11 starts (17 appearances) and should see increased numbers across the board as a sophomore. Walizer - like Yusko - will see time in the field when she is not pitching and will be a valuable asset day-in and day-out for Coach Hunt and the Scarlet Raiders.

"Kelly and Morgan are going to be major keys for us," commented Hunt. "Together, they are going to be the ones that set the tone and make us go, and I really can't wait to watch them perform starting Sunday."

Returning as the team's primary backstop will be sophomore Sam Held who will also see time at first base. A leader by example, Held will be another key for the Scarlet Raiders after a strong freshman season in which she saw action in 37 games (37 starts), hitting .312 with 39 hits in 125 at-bats. Held scored 25 times and drove in 11, blasting one home run and ripping eight doubles in addition to cutting down four potential base stealers.

Sophomore Kayla Gallo will return as the team's primary second baseman after an offseason filled with a lot of hard work and improvement. Gallo hit a strong .304 in her first year in Newark, making 31 starts and 35 total appearances. The Oxford native banged out 28 hits, two homers and seven doubles, slugging .446 and driving in 12 runs.

Sophomore outfielder Elizabeth Marflak is back and ready to make an impact after earning starts in 37 of her 38 appearances during her freshman season. Marflak will slot into right field to start the season, and will look for increases across the board when it comes to her offense. The Kearny, N.J. native tallied 15 hits, 16 runs scored and seven RBI in 2015, getting on base at a .282 clip and picking up four stolen bases in four attempts.

Also returning will be sophomore Nikki Sammartino who is a two-sport standout at R-N. A member of the starting five on the women's basketball team, Sammartino will add depth at first base early in the season after making 16 starts and 25 appearances last year. Sammartino tallied five doubles and 11 total hits, scoring seven runs and driving in six as a freshman.

The Scarlet Raider coaching staff will welcome seven newcomers this season in catcher/outfielder Samantha Hoffman, infielder Brittany Robertson, utility Liesel Johnson, outfielder Melissa Chaquea, outfielder Jenn Wooley, outfielder Adrianna Pagnotta and utility Chelsea Scott.

Hoffman is a versatile player that will contribute from the start, demonstrating talent and good instincts in the early going, while Robertson has been working hard and should see time at first and in the circle. Johnson is a power hitter that will work her way into the lineup and on to the field, while Chaquea - a member of the R-N soccer program - has great speed. Wooley is versatile and can play any of the three outfield slots, while Pagnotta - who is a junior - will eye time in the outfield as well. Scott - a member of the women's basketball program - will look for spots to use her excellent speed.

After the trip to Florida, Rutgers-Newark will open its home schedule on March 19 against Swarthmore College, welcoming Drew University (March 22) and New York University (March 24) to Alumni Field as well.

The Scarlet Raiders begin NJAC play at Rutgers University-Camden on April 2, and their first conference twin bill in Newark will be against Kean University on April 5. Regular-season play ends on April 30 with the postseason starting that next week with the NJAC Tournament.

"Our goal is the make the conference tournament," said Hunt with no hesitation. "Outside of that, we just need to take it one game at a time, not getting too high or too low and playing good fundamental softball."

Fans can follow @ScarletRaiders on twitter for updates all season long and all Rutgers-Newark home games will have live stats for the first time.