WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team took to Simpson Field on Sunday to compete in its first home game since hosting Barry on this exact date, 365 days ago which was the last home softball game of 2020.
This time, the 'Fish concluded their series against Florida Southern after splitting against the Mocs on Wednesday. Today's windy doubleheader resulted in another split between the conference foes. The Sailfish bats were silenced in game one as the 'Fish fell short 3-0, but they awoke for game two, defeating FSC (2-2, 1-2 SSC) 6-0.
PBA (2-2, 2-1 SSC) is scheduled to host Tampa on Wednesday in a doubleheader. Game one at Simpson Field takes place at 2 p.m.
Game 1: FSC 3, PBA 0
FSC wasted little time getting Sailfish pitcher Cambrio Arturo in hot water in game one. A walk, stolen base, and single up the middle put runners on second and third in the top of the first, but the sophomore was able to escape with no runs scored. Unfortunately, for the 'Fish, the Mocs pushed a run across in the second thanks to some aggressive base running on a sacrifice bunt moving a runner to third, which was followed by an RBI single to make it 1-0.
Defensive miscues came back to bite the 'Fish in the fourth and fifth innings. Two errors by PBA allowed FSC to make it 2-0 through four innings. Three hits, a walk and an error gave the Mocs another insurance run to make it 3-0.
The 'Fish did not muster their first base runner until the bottom of the fourth. PBA had two runners on in the bottom of the inning, but they were left stranded. The hosts had two runners on again in the fifth, but they were missing that crucial hit to get on the scoreboard. PBA stranded five baserunners in the game, totaling just four hits.
Faith Allen tallied two of the four hits for PBA in the game. Arturo finished with two earned runs in a complete-game performance. She allowed five hits with four walks and one strikeout.
Game 2: PBA 6, FSC 0
Game two started with three scoreless innings between both teams. Abbey Busby, who tossed five scoreless innings against FSC on Wednesday, continued to dominate the Mocs' lineup.
The PBA offense came alive in the fourth inning. FSC began to make some defensive mistakes of its own which led to RBIs from Isabella Hernandez and Allen. The third FSC error of the game on a Briana Rodriguez groundball allowed Hernandez to score and make it a 4-0 PBA lead.
Hernandez ignited another rally for the 'Fish in the bottom of the sixth. The freshman led-off the inning with a single, but she was not on base for long, scoring on a double by Allen. A sac bunt from Rodriguez moved Allen to third. The sophomore scored after a sac fly from Janie McCloskey to make it 6-0 PBA.
Six runs were more than enough run support for Busby who finished with a complete-game shutout. The senior allowed just three hits in seven innings of work with four strikeouts. Today totaled her 11th complete-game shutout which is the third-most career shutouts in PBA's DII-era record book. Hernandez led PBA in game two with three hits, two runs scored and an RBI. Allen was right behind with two more hits and two RBIs.
