FORT MYERS, Fla. – Kenyon College softball dropped its opening game of Wednesday's doubleheader, but rebounded in a dramatic extra-inning victory to end the day with a split. After dropping a 2-0 decision to Penn State Behrend, the Ladies came from behind to defeat Clark University in a redemption match, 6-5, in extra innings.

In game one, Kenyon pitcher Liz Ovieda allowed only one earned run through seven innings, but drew the loss as the Ladies' offense was held scoreless. A leadoff walk was followed by a run-scoring double to give the Lions a 1-0 lead in the opening frame.

After the first inning, Behrend did not allow any Kenyon runners to advance past first base, keeping them the Ladies off of the scoreboard for the entire game. The Lions' only other run came off a miscue in the field with two outs in the fourth inning, leading to a 2-0 score.

In the loss, Ovieda (0-2) allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits while striking out a pair. The freshman got stronger as the game progressed, allowing only two runners on base in the final three innings. She then retired the side in order in the seventh.

In game two, the bats again started slowly but picked up steam as the game went on. All 12 of the Ladies' hits came from the third inning on as Kenyon battled to stay within reach of the Clark Cougars. After Clark took an early 3-1 advantage, the Ladies tied it up in the fifth when Jamie Samuels found the gap in left center field for a double that scored Danielle Elizarraraz and Meredith Williams.

Both teams swapped runs in the sixth with Elizarraraz tying the game at four after hitting a single to center field. Later, with the game tied at five apiece, Kenyon forced Clark to strand a runner at third in the seventh inning. That meant extra innings.

Clark plated one run in the top of the eighth, stemming from a two-out single delivered by Shawna Amatucci. The Ladies returned fire in the home half of the eighth with a one-out, RBI single from Toni Miller, who tied the game at five. Miller's knock also loaded the bases and set up sophomore Maddy Stark for some late-game heroics. Stark, who was the Ladies pitcher in this game, drew a 3-2 count and on the payoff pitch drilled the game-winning hit to left field, plating pinch runner Hayley Howard and ending the game at 6-5.

Stark pitched all eight innings in the win. Only one of her five runs allowed was earned. She struck out a season-high eight hitters, while accumulating her second win of the season.

The win improved Ladies' overall record to 4-2 as they continued through the Gene Cusic Classic. The Ladies will open Thursday's action with Worchester Polytechnic Institute at 11 a.m. and follow with a 1 p.m. matchup against Olivet College (MI). Both games will be held at the Cape Coral Sports Complex in Cape Coral, Florida.