WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – After two tarp pulls and 17 innings of softball, the Palm Beach Atlantic softball team completed its doubleheader against Tampa on Saturday at Simpson FIeld.
Coming off a low-scoring 17-inning game on Friday night, both teams got the bats going on Saturday. Tampa (7-4, 2-1 SSC) came out on top in the first game, 5-3; however, the highlight of the day came in the bottom of the 10th inning in game two when
Janie McCloskey walked it off for PBA (8-5, 1-2 SSC) to win 7-6.
In all, the teams played 34 innings of softball in approximately 27 hours. The Sailfish will have a quick turnaround as they travel to Nova Southeastern on Tuesday to begin a three-game series. The first pitch in Fort Lauderdale will take place at 6 p.m.
Game 1: Tampa 5, PBA 3
Tampa only needed one inning to match the run production from Friday. The Spartans got on the board in the top of the first thanks to a throwing error by the 'Fish.
Alexis Guerra nearly made a great, head-up play at home, but her throw sailed just high to make it 2-0 Spartans.
PBA answered in the bottom of the second. With two runners on base,
Edmilly Molina doubled to centerfield to tie the game at two. The game was not tied for long as a solo home run gave UT a 3-2 lead in the third. Two PBA hits and a McCloskey sacrifice fly made it 3-3 through three innings.
The Spartans scored the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth on a sac fly after a wild pitch allowed the UT runner to advance to third base. The 'Fish had a chance to answer in the bottom of the inning after a two-out double by
Katherine Budnovich, but she was stranded. Tampa scored an insurance run in the seventh and held on for the 5-3 win to clinch the series.
Taylor Pennica went the distance for the hosts in the circle. The junior surrendered 11 hits and three earned runs in seven innings of work. The 'Fish totaled five hits in the game. Molina led PBA with two RBIs.
Game 2: PBA 7, Tampa 6
The Sailfish got out to their first lead of the weekend with a four-run second inning in game two.
Liz Albertini started the rally with an RBI-single that score Molina who doubled to start the inning. A sac-fly by
Magnolia West scored
Hannah Carlton to make it 2-0 PBA. A double by
Maddie Biggs scored Albertini and
Faith Allen to give the 'Fish a 4-0 lead.
After Tampa plated a run in the third, PBA extended its lead thanks to an RBI single by Guerra scored Allen and Carlton to make it 6-1. The Spartans worked their way back into the ball game thanks to three runs in the sixth inning and two more runs in the seventh which tied the game. Guerra prevented UT from taking the lead in the seventh by making a backhanded play at short and firing it home to get out the advancing Spartan. The play was nearly identical to the play in the first game where her throw sailed high.
The game moved into extra innings, and both teams had chances to win before McCloskey sent everybody home with a walk-off in the bottom of the 10th.
Biggs totaled four hits in the game for the 'Fish. Molina and Allen added three hits each while Guerra and Albertini finished with a pair of hits each. Biggs and Guerra finished with a pair of RBIs each.
Budnovich started the game in the circle for the 'Fish. She pitched six strong innings, finishing with a line of five earned runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts.
Abbey Busby finished the game for PBA after throwing over 200 pitches the day before. She put in four scoreless innings of work and surrendered just three hits with two strikeouts.
