Kissimmee, FL I The Rutgers University-Newark softball team had a tough start to its Florida Spring Break trip with a pair of close losses this afternoon. The Scarlet Raiders dropped a 5-1 decision to the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth (7-5) and were doubled up 6-3 by St. Joseph's College-Long Island (2-2) as their record now stands at 1-3.

Rutgers-Newark resumes its eight-day excursion tomorrow with an 11:15 a.m. matchup against The College of Wooster and a 1:30 p.m. game against Springfield College.

UMass-Dartmouth 5, Rutgers-Newark 1
Neither side scored in the first two frames as the Raiders freshman starter Jackie Lara worked out of a bases loaded jam in the first before retiring the Corsairs in order in the second. Junior Brielle Mattiello reached second on a stolen base in the bottom of the first but would advance no farther.

The visitors opened the scoring in the third as they tacked on three runs to take a commanding edge.

R-N got one back in the bottom half of the fourth when junior Sarah Stiehler began the rally with a one-out double. After advancing to third on a passed ball, sophomore Samantha Morton delivered a two-out RBI base knock to cut the deficit to 3-1. Rookie Brianna Hernandez pinch-ran for Morton and came through immediately with a stolen base before reaching third on a passed ball. Unfortunately, the Scarlet Raiders would end the frame with runners on the corners.

UMass-Dartmouth would not let the hosts get any closer as the team added a run each in the fifth and sixth to secure the victory.

Morton led the way offensively, going 1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk while Lara took the loss in the circle after five innings of work allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks to go with a fantastic eight strikeouts. Freshman Michelle Capizzano hurled the last two frames, conceding one unearned run on one hit with no walks and a strikeout.

St. Joe's-LI 6, Rutgers-Newark 3
The Raiders jumped out in front early in this contest, scoring in the top half of the first and second. Mattiello got the visitors on the board when she came all the way around from first when the right fielder misplayed a ball off the bat of Lara after smacking a one-out single.

In the second, Hernandez reached on a fielder's choice before promptly swiping second base. Then, with two down, sophomore Jaclyn Arute ripped a double to bring Hernandez home and make it 2-0.

Unfortunately, the Golden Eagles would erase that deficit in the third. The home squad produced four runs when five consecutive batters reached base safely to flip the game and claim a 4-2 edge.

Rutgers-Newark would halve that lead in the fifth as Arute started the rally with a base hit. Two batters later, Lara singled to set up sophomore Julie Contravo with one out and runners on first and second. The cleanup hitter didn't disappoint, doubling in Arute to make it a one-run contest. Still, Lara was thrown out at the dish on a fielder's choice and the rally came up just short.

St. Joe's-LI tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth to seal its win.

Arute and Stiehler were the top offensive performers as Arute went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run while Stiehler was 2-for-3. Sophomore starter Paige Masiello fell to 1-1 on the season after five innings of four-run ball despite walking one and fanning eight opponents. Capizzano conceded a pair of runs in one inning of work.