Kissimmee, FL I The Rutgers University-Newark softball team got back on track with a pair of hard-fought victories over St. Joseph's College-Long Island (4-3) and Farmingdale State College (0-6). The Scarlet Raiders improve to 3-5 after a walk-off 1-0 victory against the Golden Eagles followed by a close win as the visitors versus the Rams, 3-1.

R-N is off tomorrow but will resume its Florida Spring Break trip with games against Carleton College at 9:45 a.m. and Endicott College at 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday.

R-N 1, St. Joe's-LI 0
In the opener, the Raiders and Golden Eagles had a pitchers' duel going for the entire contest between Newark's Jackie Lara and Long Island's Patricia McGloin.
Lara was phenomenal, allowing just two runners into scoring position all afternoon while striking out nine batters.

McGloin nearly matched her with only three Raiders getting to second or third prior to the seventh.

In the final frame, Rutgers-Newark produced a patient rally to earn an important victory. Megan Tomaselli led off as a pinch hitter and was plunked. That led to another substitution as Emily Bartus was sent in to pinch run. Samantha Hoffman was next, and she earned a base on balls to make it two runners on. Then came Jaclyn Arute who worked a second consecutive walk to load the bases. That set the stage for Brielle Mattiello who kept her composure and drew a third straight free pass to bring home Bartus and win the game.

Arute was the offensive leader as she went 1-for-2 and picked up two walks for a .750 on-base percentage.

R-N 3, Farmingdale State 1
The second contest was another low-scoring affair, but the Scarlet Raider offense got off to a fast start. With two outs in the first, the visitors caught a break as Lara struck out swinging, however, she reached first due to a wild pitch. Rutgers-Newark made the most of the gift with Julie Contravo singling through the middle before Sarah Stiehler doubled to left field, allowing both Lara and Contravo to score and make it 2-0.

The Rams got one back in the bottom of the frame, still, starter Paige Masiello would slam the door shut after that. Masiello was excellent on the afternoon, going the distance while conceding just three hits and one walk as she fanned two opponents and forced 10 ground outs.

The Raiders tacked on an insurance run in the fourth. Brianna Hernandez walked then stole second before an Arute infield single and error by the shortstop brought Hernandez home for the final 3-1 tally.

Arute, Contravo, and Stiehler each picked up a pair of hits to lead the way for Newark. Contravo was 2-for-3 with a walk and run scored, Stiehler was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, and Arute added a pair of singles from the leadoff spot.