CAPE CORAL, Fla. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull within one run before Rockford University answered with three in the top of the seventh and defeated NJCU, 11-7, in the 2015 softball opener for both schools.
 
Rockford (1-0) committed four errors but overcame that with 15 hits, including four extra-base hits.
 
Freshman shortstop Alize Sarmiento (North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) had two hits for NJCU in her NCAA debut as the Gothic Knights had six new starters in the lineup for first-year head coach Jaci Timko.
 
Freshman left fielder Juliana Squeo (Carlstadt, NJ/Becton Regional) and freshman catcher Cristina Otero (Jersey City, NJ/North Bergen) each scored twice and junior right fielder Thalia Garcia (Ridgefield, NJ/North Bergen) knocked in two RBIs with a fourth-inning double.
 
The Regents were led by designated player Sarah Rizzo who was 4-for-4 with three RBIs, three runs and a homerun. Center fielder Alexandra Storey went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs. Third baseman Maranda Walker tallied a 4-for-4 effort with three runs scored and two RBIs.
 
Sophomore right-hander Brittany Paulikas (Fords, NJ/JFK-Iselin) suffered the loss (0-1) in her NJCU debut. Brittany Bura was the winner for Rockford (1-0). Only two of the seven runs allowed were earned and she struck out three against one walk.
 
Rockford jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first three innings, with Rizzo notching a two-run single in the first and Storey chalking up a two-run single in the second. Rizzo rang up a solo homer in the top of the third before NJCU got on the board in the bottom of the inning on an RBI groundout by junior first baseman Faith Ely (Vienna, NJ/Hackettstown).
 
Rockford extended the lead to 7-1 in the fourth with RBI singles by Storey and left fielder Stefaney Kenworthy. NJCU cut the gap to 7-3 when Garcia deposited a two-run double to right, scoring Otero and Squeo. Walker made it 8-3 in the fifth with an RBI single.
 
NJCU capitalized on two Rockford errors, scoring four times in the sixth. An RBI single by Sarmiento knocked in the final run as the Regent lead was cut to 8-7.
 
But the Regents countered with three runs on four hits in the seventh. After a sac fly gave Rockford some breathing room, RBI singles by Walker and shortstop Lisa Blakeley-Snyder accounted for the final margin.
 
QUOTES:
Head coach Jaci Timko (first season):
 
On the debut: "We came out being aggressive and put runners in scoring position. We just needed that timely hit to put it all together. Both of today's games gave us a good direction on what we need to improve on, which is consistency." 
 
OF NOTE:

• Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.