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CLERMONT, Fla. – Facing some of its toughest competition of the young season, the Minnesota State University Moorhead softball team fell in a pair of nonconference contests at the Dot Richardson Spring Games on Wednesday in Clermont, Fla.. The Dragons lost to New Haven, 5-2 and to Caldwell, 8-0 to conclude their annual Florida trip.

MSUM fell to 4-5 overall with the losses. New Haven (6-1) is receiving votes in the latest NFCA Division II Poll while Caldwell (8-1) is ranked No. 18 nationally in that poll.

The Dragons, who had three games canceled because of weather during their Florida swing, finished the Florida trip a solid 4-3.

"It was a good trip," MSUM head coach Kelsey Fehl said. "It's something for us to build on for our conference season."

MSUM's game with New Haven was tied at 2-2 after five innings before the Chargers scored three times in the top of the sixth to take a 5-2 lead on their way to a three-run win.

Sophomore designated hitter Kristy Bruni hit a two-run homer for MSUM, while freshman first baseman Lauren Meeker was 1-for-2 with a double. Junior right fielder Heather Tice was 1-for-3.

Sophomore pitcher Morgan Nybo allowed five runs, but only one was earned, in taking the loss on the mound for MSUM. She struck out six and walked two while allowing 10 hits.

MSUM took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Meeker doubled, and scored on Bruni's homer to give the Dragons a one-run lead. Bruni leads MSUM in homers (three) and RBI (five) through nine games.

New Haven tied the game in the top of the fifth, and then broke the game open with three runs in the sixth. Lindsey Couturier's two-run homer was the big hit of the inning, and MSUM was unable to get closer the rest of the way.

Against Caldwell, freshman left fielder Carly Williamson and junior right fielder Rachel Sannicandro had the hits for MSUM. 

Sophomore pitcher Kristen Nordby took the loss for MSUM, giving up seven runs (all earned) in two innings. She struck out two and walked three. Nybo finished and allowed one run (none earned) in two innings of relief.

Caldwell scored four runs in the first and added three more runs in the second to build a 7-0 lead.  MSUM's best scoring chance was in the fourth, when junior catcher Brittany York walked to lead off the winning. One out later, Meeker was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with only one out. However, a fielder's choice force out and strike out ended that threat.

The Dragons are scheduled to open Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play at home on Tuesday against Northern State. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. in Moorhead, Minn.