WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team played its home opener on Wednesday in a doubleheader against Washburn as the Ichabods began their tour around the Sunshine State.
Abbey Busby tossed her first shutout of 2020 in game one as the Sailfish took game one 4-0.
Taylor Pennica took her place in the circle in game two who threw her first career complete game in a 3-2 win for PBA (3-1).
Sailfish softball travels to Viera, Fla. this weekend to play five-games in a tournament hosted by SSC-foe Florida Tech. The 'Fish face off against New Haven and No. 4 West Florida at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. respectively.
Game 1: PBA 4, Washburn 0
A three-run first inning was all the run support Busby needed in game one.
Magnolia West started the rally with single up the middle. An error by WU (0-2) made it second and third with one out.
Janie McCloskey got the 'Fish on the board with a triple off the right-field fence which made it 2-0 PBA. McCloskey scored three batters later on an RBI-groundout by
Hannah Carlton.
Busby forced her way out of several precarious situations in the game. In the top of the third, an error, single and a sac bunt put runners on second and third with one out; however, Busby got a strikeout and a groundout back to the mound to preserve the shutout. In the fourth inning, the Ichabods were threatening with the bases loaded, but she left them stranded again.
An RBI single in the bottom of the fifth by
Alexis Guerra made it 4-0 PBA. The 'Fish cruised for the rest of the game as Busby did not allow a hit after the fifth inning.
With her two hits in the ballgame, West became the PBA leader in career hits with 211. She breaks former Sailfish Maddie Bertish's record which was set last season.
Game 2: PBA 3, Washburn 2
The Sailfish were forced to play from behind early in game two as Washburn struck first with an RBI-double in the second inning. It did not take long for PBA to answer as an RBI-groundout by
Faith Allen scored
Katherine Budnovich to tie the game at one.
PBA took its first lead of the game thanks to a two-run fifth inning. Budnovich drove in
Liz Albertini with a single to right field to make it 2-1 'Fish. Allen drove in Budnovich again with another groundout to make it 3-2.
That last run came in handy as the Ichabods made it a one-run game in the sixth. It seemed like the game might head to extra innings after WU led off the seventh inning with a single, but Pennica set down the next three batters in order to seal the 3-2 win for PBA.
Budnovich led PBA with two hits in game two, while Allen finished with two-RBIs. Pennica totaled three strikeouts and gave up two earned runs on seven hits in seven innings pitched.
