CLEARWATER, Fla. – Palm Beach Atlantic softball split a pair of games at the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Friday, as they fell to No. 22 Valdosta State 11-0 before knocking off No. 2 Southern Arkansas 6-3. The 'Fish now sit 2-3 on the season.
Game 1: No. 22 Valdosta State 11, No. 18 Palm Beach Atlantic 0
Valdosta State took control of the game in a hurry on Friday, as they scored four runs in the first inning and seven in the second to take an 11-0 lead on the Sailfish after two innings.
The Sailfish had their best scoring chance in the top of the third, as Kathryn Sutton and Katherine Budnovich both picked up singles. The 'Fish were unable to come up with a two-out RBI however and did not score.
Taylor Pennica threw a scoreless inning out of the bullpen for the Sailfish, who were outhit 9-4 in the contest and made the game's only two errors.
Game 2: No. 18 Palm Beach Atlantic 6, No. 2 Southern Arkansas 3
PBA looked to shake off their afternoon loss as they faced No. 2 ranked Southern Arkansas in the nightcap on Friday. The 'Fish got off to a much better start in the game as Budnovich fired a couple of scoreless innings to get the game started.
The 'Fish came alive offensively in the bottom of the second, as they pushed their first run across on a SAU error, and Magnolia West drove in another run with a two-out, two-strike RBI single to center.
The Muleriders got one run back in the third inning on a couple of Sailfish errors, and the game remained 2-1 until the bottom of the fourth, when the Sailfish offense exploded for three runs to open up a 5-1 lead. West came through with an RBI single once again in the inning and after a Maddie Bertisch infield single, Budnovich helped her own cause with a two-RBI single to left center.
Budnovich (Win, 1-1) cruised through five innings, but ran into some trouble in the sixth inning, as she loaded the bases with walks and allowed a two-run single to left field. Abbey Busby (Save, 1) entered however with the bases loaded and got out of the jam to keep the Sailfish ahead 5-3.
PBA added an insurance run in the sixth as West singled with two outs and after stealing second, came around to score on a Bertisch single to left field. Busby pitched a clean seventh to pick up the save and close the door on SAU.
West had a monster game at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Bertisch and Kaylee Winn also collected two hits each at the plate, while Budnovich went 1-for-3 with two RBI.
The Sailfish will return to play tomorrow as they will take on Wayne State at 2:30 p.m. and West Florida at 6:30 p.m. in Clearwater, Fla.
