CLERMONT, Fla. - Carroll's softball team kicked off their annual Spring Trip to Florida on Saturday morning, losing both games. The Pios fell to Rutgers-Camden in a tight 9-7 affair in eight innings, before also losing to Northwestern (Minn.) by a score of 9-1 to end the day.

Carroll (2-4) didn't display an ounce of jet lag to open their week in the fun and sun of central Florida, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Sophia Schmidt started the scoring with an RBI double to center, allowing Abby Curtis to score. Allison Garske would follow that with a run-scoring single, before Kiana Johnson drove in another with an RBI single of her own. The second inning saw the Pios score two more runs on RBI singles by Sydney Raddeman and Garski to take a 5-0 lead after just two innings.

Rutgers-Camden (1-0) would then slowly inch their way back into the game, scoring twice in the third on a pair of RBI singles, while adding two more in the fourth on a run-scoring single and a bases loaded walk. Rutgers then tied the score in the top of the sixth on an RBI single, before completing their comeback with a two-run single in the seventh. Carroll didn't make things easy however, tying the game once more in the bottom of that frame, thanks to RBI singles from Gianna Buske and Madison Palasz to force extra innings. In the top of the eighth, Rutgers took the lead for good on a one-out RBI triple to right field, before scoring an insurance run on a wild pitch.

The two teams combined for 31 hits in the contest, with Carroll recording 15 base knocks. Schmidt led all players with four hits in five trips to the plate. K.Johnson added three hits, while Garski recorded a pair of hits, with each leading to an RBI. Riley Pavelka started in the circle, finishing with six strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work.

The day's second game began the opposite of the first, with the University of Northwestern (MN) jumping on the board early with one run in the bottom of the first and three more in the second, which included a home run to center and a two-run double. Northwestern added a two-run shot in the third to give the Eagles a 6-0 advantage.

Carroll would get on the board in the top of the fourth when Kali Stanchina singled to center, allowing K.Johnson to score, but Northwestern would get that run back in the bottom of that inning on an RBI triple to right center. The Eagles then scored two more runs in that inning to end the game.

Both teams finished the game with seven hits, with Stanchina leading the Pios by going 2-for-2 at the dish.

Carroll will be in action again on Sunday when they'll battle Messiah University and Juniata College at 3 and 5:15 p.m. Eastern Time, respectively. Both games will be played at Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex in Leesburg, Fla.