FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Kenyon Ladies softball team opened their season on Sunday but fell on the short end in a pair of games against Wisconsin Lutheran College and Dominican University (Ill.) during the Gene Cusic Classic. Kenyon dropped the opener to Wisconsin Lutheran 8-5 before losing to Dominican 7-5.
 
GAME ONE
 
Wisconsin Lutheran put constant pressure on the Ladies' pitching and defense through the second and fifth innings and used a trio of multiple-run innings in their win.
 
Despite giving up a few runs, the Kenyon offense still managed to keep the team in the game before going scoreless in the final two innings.
 
Down 2-0 heading to the bottom of the second, the Ladies responded with a run. Sophomore catcher Nicole Horita connected with a two-out single to center field scoring Lindsey Susolik who led off the inning with a double.
 
The Ladies' defense came back in the third retiring all three Warriors batters which brought Kenyon back up to bat. The momentum carried over as Jane Ghublikian drove home Britny Patterson with a run-scoring single tying the game at 2.
 
Wisconsin Lutheran plated two more runs in the fourth to go up 4-2 before Kenyon added another in the bottom of the frame. With two outs, Amanda Coyle singled to center scoring Mari Colucci.
 
In the fifth, back-to-back run-scoring hits from the Warriors moved their lead to 7-3. Libby Schellpfeffer singled through the right side and in the next at-bat, Abby Akright drove in two more with a single to center.
 
Once again though, the Ladies fought back to cut the deficit to 7-5 with consecutive RBI doubles from Ghublikian and Susolik. Kenyon had just one out after the hits, but the Warriors got a strikeout and turned a fielder's choice into an out at home.
 
Kenyon wasn't able to get any closer after that.
 
GAME TWO
 
A six-run third inning gave Dominican all the run support it needed in game two as they came up with some timely hitting.
 
After a fielder's choice resulted in a force-out at home, the Kenyon defense had two outs. But Dominican still had the bases loaded. Their next three at-bats were devastating for the Ladies' chances in the game.
Back-to-back run-scoring singles from Alyssa Dimico and Catherine Conte moved the score to 3-0. The big inning was capped off with a three-run bomb from Abby Maike.
 
Down 6-0, Kenyon responded in the home half of the third. Molly O'Connor started the frame with a single and in the next at-bat, Patterson hit her first collegiate homer to right center bringing the score to 6-2.
 
The Stars added their final run in the fifth before the Ladies tried to get back into the game.
 
Down 7-2, Kenyon caught a break after an error from the Stars second baseman. Madi Maldonado and Patterson scored on an errant throw which brought the tally to 7-4. Kenyon added one more in the sixth on a Patterson sacrifice fly to left.
 
In the seventh, Kenyon got the tying runs on base, but a line out to second base resulted in a double play ending the game.
 
Next up for the Ladies will be two games tomorrow against Nazareth College and Rockford University.