CAPE CORAL, Fla. - The Rockford University softball team opened its season with an impressive 11-7 win over New Jersey City University. Rockford scored at least one run in six of the seven innings and never trailed the entire game. The Regents pounded out 15 hits with a trio of players recording at least three hits, including two four-hit performances.

Rockford got off to a fast start scoring the first 5 runs of the game. Following singles by Alexandra Storey (Dexter, Mich.) and Brittany Bura (Chicago, Ill.), freshman Sarah Rizzo (Monee, Ill.) laced a two-out, two-run single into center field giving the Regents a 2-0 lead after one inning of play. The second inning followed a similar pattern as Rockford quickly placed two runners on base. Senior Maranda Walker (Rockford, Ill.) crushed a one-out double over the left fielder's head followed by a walk from Lynn Blakeley-Snyder (Winnebago, Ill.). A couple of batters later, freshman Alexandra Storey ripped a two-out, two-run single into left field giving Rockford an early 4-0 advantage. Sarah Rizzo then made it a 5-0 Rockford lead as she blasted her first collegiate home run.  

Over the next two innings Rockford matched New Jersey City run-for-run to maintain its 5-run advantage. The Regents scored two more runs in the top of the fourth and added a single run in the top of the fifth inning. Maranda Walker led off the fourth with a single to collect her second hit of the afternoon. Walker would score three batter later on Alexandra Storey's third hit of the game. Stefaney Kenworthy (Veedersburg, Ind.) then smashed an RBI double into center field scoring Storey and giving Rockford a 7-1 lead, its largest of the day. However, NJCU answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning cutting Rockford's lead back down to four. Senior Maranda Walker once again had the answer for the Regents as she recorded her third hit and drove in her first run of the game to once again give her team a 5-run lead. 

Despite its large lead, the Regents were tested in the final two innings as New Jersey City turned in a 4-run sixth inning cutting the Rockford lead down to a single run. However the youthful Regents were up to the challenge as they put together a 3-run top of the seventh as Ali Moore (Mascoutah, Ill.), Maranda Walker and Lynn Blakeley-Snyder each drove in a run to help secure the 11-7 win. 

Inside the circle for Rockford in its season opener was junior pitcher Brittany Bura. Despite finding herself in some trouble in a few different innings, Bura had an impressive first outing. The junior tossed a complete game surrendering just two earned runs while striking out three. She also came through in the clutch turning a much needed double play with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first and stranding seven NJCU baserunners, five of which were in scoring position.

Sarah Rizzo had perhaps one of the most memorable collegiate debuts in recent memory for the Regents. The freshman fell just a triple short of the cycle as she went 4-for-4 with a home run, a double and a pair of singles. Rizzo also drove in 3 runs and scored 3 more to account for 6 of Rockford's 11 runs. 

Maranda Walker had an impressive 4-hit performance with a double and a trio of singles. The senior also drove in a pair of runs while scoring 3 more. 

Freshman Alexandra Storey also had a stellar debut on Sunday. Storey went 3-for-5 with three runs batted in and two runs scored.