WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Palm Beach Atlantic softball split a pair of games with No. 3 ranked West Florida on Thursday, falling in the first game and using a Magnolia West walk-off double in game two to come away with the split. The Sailfish now sit 3-1 on the season, and will be playing some games this weekend at home as their trip to Alabama-Huntsville for the Charger Chillout has been cancelled due to inclement weather.
Game 1: # 3 West Florida 4, Palm Beach Atlantic 1
The first game of the day was a pitcher's duel, as Ashton Adkins and Sarah Maloney both put zero after zero on the scoreboard. Adkins allowed just one hit in the first six innings of the game, as she struck out seven Argonaut batters and walked three.
Adkins ran into a little trouble in the seventh however, as a Sailfish error and a couple Argo hits led to four runs in the inning.
Maloney matched Adkins pitch for pitch on Thursday, as she fired six scoreless innings as well. The Sailfish put a rally together in the bottom of the seventh, and got the tying run on base, but Maloney escaped the jam to earn her first victory of the season.
Edmilly Molina went 2-for-3 at the plate, as she was the lone Sailfish player with multiple hits in the game. West went 1-for-3 and also reached via walk for the 'Fish, who lost their first game of the season.
Game 2: Palm Beach Atlantic 5, # 3 West Florida 4
Game two did not have the same start as game one, as both teams scored early runs as the two starting pitchers struggled to settle in. West Florida was able to score three first-inning runs off Sailfish starter Abbey Busby as they got three hits in the first inning and took advantage of a Sailfish error.
The Sailfish looked as they might put a crooked number up on the scoreboard themselves in the first inning as they loaded the bases with no outs. Some great Argonaut defense ended the inning with just one run allowed however.
The Argos added a run in the top of the second, but the 'Fish answered with a run of their own on a Michaela Hynes RBI groundout.
Busby settled in after the first couple innings, and held the Argos off the scoreboard for the next couple innings. West brought the 'Fish a run closer in the third, as she singled home Hannah Carlton.
The game remained 4-3 in favor of the Argos until the bottom of the sixth, when Alexis Guerra pinch hit for the 'Fish and drove a single to right-center field to plate Hynes and tie the game at four.
Busby retired the Argos in the top of the seventh, as the sailfish came to bat in the bottom half of the inning with a chance to win it.
Maddie Biggs led off the seventh with a double off the left-field wall to put herself in scoring position. Two batters later, West cranked a double to deep left that plated Biggs to lift the 'Fish to a walk-off victory.
Busby picked up the complete-game victory for the 'Fish, allowing seven hits and three earned runs. West finished the game 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Biggs was walked three times in the game to go with her seventh-inning double.
