JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Thanks in large part to a six-run fifth inning, the Jacksonville University softball team opened its 2016 slate with a 7-5 victory over North Carolina – Greensboro Thursday.

The outing not only served as the Dolphins' home opener, but was also the first game of the River City Leadoff, a 12-game tournament hosted at the Debbie & Fred Pruitt Softball Complex.

"The first one is always the best," said Head Coach Jennifer Steele. "I think our team did a really nice job from top to bottom. We fell behind early but had aggression late in the game, and I think that's how we scored our runs."

Victoria Brown earned the start and pitched four innings, allowing six hits and three runs, one earned. Offensively, she recorded four RBIs on two hits.

Paige Curtis walked away with the win in her Dolphin debut after pitching three innings. She conceded just three hits and a pair of runs.

"The newcomers did great today," continued Steele. "Three of our junior college kids started. Ciara [Jones] was at the top of the lineup, Heather [Roberts] was in the middle and then Paige came in and did a great job shutting down their offense.

"I think she's the biggest reason why we had momentum late in the game. We scored six runs after she came in and got a 1-2-3 inning. She was fantastic."

Trailing 3-0 in the fifth, Jacksonville loaded the bases on a hit by a pitch, single to left field and walk. There was just one out on the board for Brown when she singled to right field to bring all three runs home.

Two batters later, the Dolphins again had a runner on each base when Kristen Griffith singled to right to score two. Danielle Baker capped the inning with a shot up the middle to score Brooke Smith.

Both sides tacked on a run in the sixth, and UNCG rallied to load the bases in the seventh but could only tab one run.

Jacksonville continues play in the River City Leadoff tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. against Kansas.