Clermont, FL I The Rutgers University-Newark softball team closed out its Florida trip with a split against Luther College (7-2) and Union College (1-1). The Scarlet Raiders dropped their opening contest against the Norse 10-3 before rebounding to end the day with an 8-1 victory over the Dutchwomen to complete the trip with a 6-8 record as they head back to Newark.

Rutgers-Newark will resume non-conference action against regional foe NYU on Tuesday with a twinbill beginning at 4 p.m.

Luther 10, Rutgers-Newark 3
Against the Norse, the Raiders struck first in the top of the second when Samantha Morton lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing home Julie Contravo.

Unfortunately, Luther would respond with a huge bottom of the second, surging ahead with six runs in the frame to take a commanding lead.

After two more Norse runs in the third, R-N cut into its deficit a bit in the fifth. Riley Scuralli began the rally with a single before Alyssa Morales reached on an error and Samantha Hoffman allowed Scuralli to cross the plate on an RBI base knock. Following a groundout that moved both runners into scoring position, Brielle Mattiello delivered an RBI single that drove Morales home and made it 8-3.

Still, the rally would end there as Luther tacked on two more insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Hoffman and Scuralli each went 1-for-2 with Hoffman adding an RBI and Scuralli scoring a run. Mattiello was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Paige Masiello suffered the loss in the circle after 1.2 innings of six-run ball while Michelle Capizzano hurled the remaining 4.1 frames.

Rutgers-Newark 8, Union 1
After conceding the first run in the top of the first, the Scarlet Raiders settled in and cruised to an easy win. Jackie Lara had a masterful outing, pitching a complete game while allowing just six base runners and one run as she struck out four and improve to 4-1 on the season.

R-N took the lead in the bottom of the second. Sarah Stiehler led off and was beaned before Morton singled and Scuralli sacrificed to move both runners into scoring position. A fielder's choice allowed Stiehler to cross the dish and tie the game while a sac bunt by Hoffman scored Morton and had the hosts in front. An RBI single from Jaclyn Arute scored Hernandez and made it 3-1 in favor of the Raiders.

Rutgers-Newark tacked on two more in the fifth when Lara helped her own cause with a two-run long ball. Then, in the sixth, Brianna Hernandez and Arute each delivered RBI base hits before Contravo added a sacrifice fly to wrap up the scoring.

Arute had a big game in the leadoff spot, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Lara and Hernandez each also contributed two RBI with Hernandez adding two runs scored.