Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FORT MEYERS, Fla.  – The Kenyon College softball team enjoyed its final day in Southwest Florida by splitting doubleheader action on Tuesday afternoon. Maddy Stark ruled the circle with a complete game, shutout victory over New Jersey City University but the Ladies dropped their second contest against Wartburg University (IA) to round out the trip.

The Gothic Knights of New Jersey City University had little chance with the pitching performance that Stark put forth in game one of the twin pack. The reigning North Coast Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week displayed why she garnered such an honor by racking up 11 strikeouts over her seven innings of work. The junior struck out the side in the first and second innings before scattering five more throughout the remaining five innings of play.

New Jersey City was held to just five hits while Kenyon racked up 14 on the day. They began their assault in the third inning, scoring twice for the first of three consecutive frames. Liz Paterra led the inning off with a walk and came around to score on one of Chelsey Delaney's two run-scoring hits. Danielle Elizarraraz came around to score on one of Ashley Latushko's five wild pitches on the day.

Delaney drove in two more runs in the fifth with a two-RBI single through the right side, this time against relief pitcher Melissa Mendoza. The offense continued to reign down on the Gothic Knights when freshman Sylvie Thomas notched her first collegiate hit in a pinch-hitting role, a two-RBI double to left field, scoring Lindsey Susolik and Molly O'Connor.

With the score 6-0, it was more than enough for Stark to ride out into her fourth complete-game shutout performance of the season. She improved to 6-2 on the season while the Ladies earned their 12th win on the season.

Wartburg College (9-3) offered a greater challenged and quieted the Ladies' hot bats. Both teams flew through the first three innings, neither recording a base hit, but things got interesting in the bottom of the fourth.

The Knights scored the first run when leadoff hitter Courtney Belk got aboard by lining a single off of Thomas' glove in the circle, then came around on an RBI double by Taylor Smola.

Kenyon tied it up in their next at bat, cashing in on Toni Miller's leadoff double and a passed ball that put her one base closer to the plate. Thomas came through with her second run-scoring base hit of the day with a blooper over the first baseman's head, allowing Miller to score.

Wartburg responded with two runs in the bottom of the stanza when pinch hitter Savannah Warburton singled through the left side with runners on the corners. Two batters later, Jess Brunko singled home Micaela Forsyth for their third and final run of the game. Stark came in and sat down the Knights after that, but Wartburg pitcher Paige Blom (4-1) retired the remaining Ladies in the sixth and seventh innings to seal the win. She held Kenyon to just three hits in the game, while striking out five.

After playing 16 games over eight days, Kenyon exited the Gene Cusic Classic with an overall record of 12-4 to start off the season. They won their first seven games out of the gate, setting a new program best to start the season.

The Ladies' next action will not be in action for another 10 days when they play their home-opener with a twinbill against Houghton College on March 21. The doubleheader is set to begin at 3:30 p.m. from the Kenyon College Softball Field.