WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Palm Beach Atlantic softball won a doubleheader against Florida Tech on Saturday, as they stayed perfect in Sunshine State Conference play with two walk-off victories at Simpson Field. The Sailfish defeated the Panthers 3-2 in the first game of the day and 4-3 in the series finale.
The Sailfish will host Embry-Riddle in an SSC three-game series on March 29-30. Game one of the series is set for a 6 pm start on Thursday, March 29.
Game One: #10 PBA 3, Florida Tech 2
Florida Tech took an early lead in the first game of the day, as they scored a run on an infield single off Sailfish starter Abbey Busby. The 'Fish quickly answered as Magnolia West led off with a single, stole second, and came around to score on a single by Hannah Carlton.
Both pitchers found their groove after the first inning, as neither team had another scoring chance until the fifth inning. The Panthers took the lead in the fifth inning as the Sailfish defense struggled, making two errors in the inning.
Claudia Pizzarelli and Maddie Bertisch singled in the bottom of the fifth, bringing up Carlton with two outs. Carlton smacked a single to center field which plated Pizzarelli to tie the game at two.
The Sailfish and Panthers entered the bottom of the seventh tied at two when Pizzarelli led off with a single to left field. After a sacrifice bunt, Bertisch singled to advance Pizzarelli to third, and Carlton plated the winning run with a sacrifice fly.
Carlton finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in all three Sailfish runs. Pizzarelli had a great game in the nine spot of the order, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored.
Abbey Busby (Win, 9-0) picked up the complete-game victory, as the freshman struck out six batters and scattered seven hits.
Game Two: #10 PBA 4, Florida Tech 3
The final game of the series saw Ashton Adkins and Melanie Murphy face off again, as they did on Friday night. The pitchers were in control early, as neither team plated a run in the first three innings.
The Sailfish got on the board first, as Alexis Brown reached on an error in the fourth, and her pinch runner Brianna Rano scored on a squeeze bunt from Maddie Biggs. Taylor Pennica then pinch hit and crushed a two-run home run to give the 'Fish a 3-0 lead.
The Panthers answered in the top of the fifth, as they got all three runs back to tie the game at three.
Busby entered the game in the sixth, and threw two scoreless innings in relief to keep the game tied and bring the Sailfish up with another chance at a walk-off victory.
After two quick outs, Carlton was hit by a pitch, and Michaela Hynes singled to move Carlton into scoring position. Brown hit a ball to left field, where the Panther defense was unable to make the play, and Carlton came around to score the winning run for the Sailfish, who won their 19th game in a row.
Busby picked up the win to improve to 10-0 on the season. The Sailfish picked up six hits in the game, as nobody in the lineup had multiple hits in the finale.
