BOCA RATON, Fla. – Palm Beach Atlantic softball saw their bats come alive on Saturday afternoon, as they scored 16 runs in two games and completed the Sunshine State Conference sweep of Lynn University. The Sailfish are now 12-0 in SSC play and 19-2 overall on the season. Lynn drops to 17-16 overall and 6-9 in league play.
The Sailfish will be back in action next weekend, as they will host Florida Tech for a weekend series, beginning Friday, March 23.
Game 1: No. 13 Palm Beach Atlantic 11, Lynn 8
The Sailfish and Fighting Knights opened up their doubleheader with a slugfest, as the teams combined for 19 runs and six long balls in total, with the Sailfish clubbing four homers in the game.
The Sailfish got on the scoreboard first in the game, as Taylor Pennica launched a homer to center field in the second inning to give the 'Fish a 1-0 lead. After Maddie Biggs walked, Claudia Pizzarelli and Magnolia West both singled to bring up Hannah Carlton who hit her first collegiate homer, a grand slam to give the Sailfish a 5-0 advantage.
The 'Fish stretched their lead to 8-0 in the third inning, as Biggs and Pizzarelli both drove in runs with RBI singles and West plated Biggs with a sacrifice fly.
Lynn mounted a furious comeback however, as they scored six runs in the third inning to cut the Sailfish lead to two runs. The score remained 8-6 until the fifth, when Loren Kilgore hit a solo homer to left center field.
After a Lynn homer made the score 9-8 in the fifth, Pennica came through again, this time with an RBI single, giving the Sailfish some breathing room. Alexis Brown joined the home run party in the seventh as the sophomore cranked a solo homer to give the 'Fish an 11-8 lead.
Abbey Busby came in to close out the game, throwing two scoreless innings to pick up her first save. Jana Wagner picked up the win and improved to 5-0 on the season, as the senior threw 2.2 innings in relief and allowed two runs.
Pizzarelli finished a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, while Carlton, Pennica, and Kilgore all added multi-hit performances for the Sailfish.
Game 2: No. 13 Palm Beach Atlantic 4, Lynn 1
The final game of the day was very different from the first one, as both starting pitchers were in control early with the game entering the fourth inning scoreless. Biggs came through with an RBI double in the fourth, giving the 'Fish a 1-0 lead.
Brown pinch hit an inning later, doubling to right-center field and driving in a pair of runs to give the 'Fish a 3-0 lead.
The 'Fish received great pitching from Busby in the final game of the series, as the freshman went 6.1 innings, allowing one run and improving to 8-0 on the year. Ashton Adkins entered in the seventh to pick up the final two outs of the game and record her third save of the season.
West finished 3-for-3 at the plate, and extended her hitting streak as the sophomore has recorded a hit in every game this season. Michaela Hynes went 2-for-4 in the final game of the series.
