FT. MYERS, Fla. – The Kenyon College Ladies (1-1) softball team opened their 2015 season with a pair of games against Bluffton University (4-0_ and Clark University as a part of the Gene Cusic Classic Monday morning. Kenyon fell in its opener against Bluffton 4-3 but bounced back to roll Clark 11-3.
 
GAME ONE
 
The Ladies got off to a good start in the opener against the Beavers jumping out to a 2-0 lead after the first two innings.
 
Senior Chelsea Delaney got Kenyon on the board in the top of the first when she socked a two-out RBI double to right center scoring Lindsey Susolik.
 
In the second, Danielle Elizarraraz singled to start the inning and four batters later crossed home plate after an error at shortstop.
 
After a scoreless third, Kenyon freshman Madi Maldonado connected with a two-out single down the left field line bringing in Liz Paterra. Kenyon led 3-0 heading to the bottom of the fourth.
 
The Beavers then rallied the rest of the way.
 
Bluffton's Ariana Muffo got her team on the board in the bottom of the fourth when she hit an RBI triple to right center scoring Ashley Knippen who singled to start the inning.
 
Trailing 3-1, the Beavers added another run in the fifth as Makenzie Schmidt hit an RBI single to left center field.
 
The sixth inning produced nothing for either team. And in the top of the seventh, Kenyon looked to get some insurance but had all three of its batters retired.
 
Things looked to be heading in Kenyon's favor in the bottom of the seventh as the first two Beaver batters got out on a strikeout and line drive. But the next two Bluffton batters, Schmidt and Knippen, rallied their team as they each hit doubles to tie the game and then win it in comeback fashion.
 
Hayley Howard led the Ladies with a pair of hits while five others recorded one hit. Maddy Stark (0-1) took the tough loss as she went 6.2 innings, allowed eight hits, four earned runs and struck out four.
 
GAME TWO
 
Kenyon's bats were on fire against Clark (1-5) as they collected 16 hits in the 11-3 victory.
 
Jane Ghublikian, Stark, and Delaney each recorded three hits while Amanda Coyle and Howard each ripped a pair.
 
After a scoreless first inning, the Ladies were able to score in every inning after that.
 
Nicole Horita got Kenyon on the board in the second with an RBI triple scoring Stark. In the next at-bat, Coyle hit a sacrifice bunt to pitcher allowing Horita to score.
 
The Ladies added a single run in the next three innings before exploding for six in the sixth and seventh innings combined.  Ghublikian's one-out double highlighted the sixth inning and back-to-back RBI singles from Delaney and Stark highlighted the seventh.
 
The Cougars were able to get three runs on the board in the seventh but well after the game had been decided.
 
Sylvie Thomas (1-0) picked up the win in the circle for the Ladies tossing a complete game and allowing six hits.
 
Next up for the Ladies are contests against Franklin College and Northland College tomorrow, March 3, starting at 9 a.m. Live statistics will be provided for both games.