KISSIMMEE, FL- The Georgian Court University softball team took nine innings and over three hours (3:04) to secure a 7-6 victory vs. Northwood University (MI) in the Lions' season-opener Saturday afternoon at the 2010 Rebel Spring Games.

 The Lions (1-0) carried a 2-1 lead into fourth inning before the Timberwolves (0-1) countered with a three spot in the bottom of the frame to take a 4-2 advantage on a rainy, raw 48 degree Florida morning. GCU continued its reputation as comeback kids, scratching out two runs in the seventh inning to tie the contest at four apiece. 

SS Sammie Jo Garofalo, after reaching on an infield hit to third base, scored on a Courtney Cuevas fielder's choice. Cuevas stole second base, setting the table for RF Jennifer Tartaglia (pictured). With two outs and two strikes and the game on the line, the sophomore laced a base hit to left, scoring '09 CACC Rookie of the Year, Rachel Ruch, who had reached on a single of her own earlier in the inning, from third base. Both clubs scored two runs each in the eighth inning, making the score 6-6. 1B Kelsey Cutler launched a tremendous 2-run homer in the top of that inning before Northwood evened it in the bottom half. 

Georgian Court took the lead for good in the ninth as CF Jessica Comiskey scored from third base on a wild pitch by Northwood hurler, Jessica Wojcik (SR.-Highland, MI) (0-1). Comiskey, with the umpires using the International tiebreaker rule in extra innings, began the stanza at second base before advancing on a Garofalo infield hit. 

In a game that was anything but flashy, the Lions' defense committed four errors in the contest. 

2009 CACC Pitcher of the Year Diana Sansevera took the "W" for GCU, yielding six runs (1 ER) on 10 hits and two walks, while striking out eight. Garofalo went 3-for-4 at the plate and scored two runs while Ruch went 2-for-5 with a run and RBI. 

Northwood's Jamie Swick (Sr.-Temperance, MI) led the offense for her team, going 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.