BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team concluded its series at Lynn on Saturday.
After taking game one of the series on Friday, the Sailfish completed the sweep against the Fighting Knights on Saturday, taking both games of the doubleheader. PBA's offense picked up right where it left off in game one. The Sailfish put up 10 runs in the first game, defeating Lynn, 10-5. Lynn (5-7, 0-3 SSC) faced a 6-3 deficit in the final inning of the second game. The Fighting Knights plated two runs in the inning, but the host's comeback fell short as PBA (4-3, 3-0 SSC) held on to win, 6-5.
PBA hosts Eckerd in a three-game series beginning on Friday. The game on Friday takes place at 6 p.m.
Game 1: PBA 10, Lynn 5
The Sailfish offense wasted little time getting on the board in game one. A leadoff single, an error, and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. Another Lynn error allowed the PBA to score its first run of the game. Dallas Watterson followed with an RBI groundout to make it a 2-0 game. Hayley Haas sent an RBI single to left field to drive in the third run of the frame. Lastly, a wild pitch with the bases loaded allowed Janie McCloskey to score to give the 'Fish a 4-0 advantage to start the game.
PBA scored one run in each the second and third innings. Katherine Budnovich sent a ball over the right-centerfield fence for a solo home run in the second inning. In the third inning, Elisa Grande started the frame with a single and scored on a sacrifice fly later in the inning by Daylin Hejtmanek. Lynn answered in the bottom of each inning with runs of its own to make it a 6-2 game.
The Sailfish put the game out of reach in the fourth inning. PBA scored four runs thanks to hits from McCloskey, Elisa Grande, Hejtmanek, and Budnovich giving the 'Fish a 10-2 lead. Lynn took advantage of some walks to push across three runs in the fifth inning to make it a 10-5 game, but Lacy Marty entered the game in the circle to shut down the comeback and seal the win for PBA.
Chloe Nepveux got the start, pitching 4.1 innings with five runs on six hits and four walks. Budnovich led PBA with three hits, two RBIs, two runs, and one walk. Briana Rodriguez, McCloskey, and Grande tallied two hits each.
Game 2: PBA 6, Lynn
PBA struck first again in game two. Emma Gipson walked to start a two-out rally and advanced to second base, then third base on two wild pitches. The third wild pitch in the inning allowed Gipson to score, and give the 'Fish a 1-0 lead. Lynn bounced back in the bottom of the frame. A walk and a pair of singles scored two runs for the Fighting Knights who took a 2-1 lead.
The 'Fish tied the game in the fourth inning after an RBI single from Haas, scoring McCloskey. The tie was short-lived after a single and a PBA error in the bottom of the inning allowed Lynn to regain a 3-2 lead. The Sailfish fought back again in the top of the fifth. Hejtmanek got hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and start the rally. Rodriguez singled to put runners on first and third. A Lynn error tied the game at three and put runners on first and second with no outs. Maura Glatczak increased the lead for PBA with a two-RBI double, making it a 5-3 ballgame.
Gipson added an insurance run for the Sailfish in the top of the seventh after a home run to left field. The homer ended up making the difference in the game as a walk, double and a single made it 6-5 with two outs. Rodriguez caught a slicing fly ball for the final out in leftfield and clinch the sweep for PBA.
Cambria Arturo pitched a complete game for PBA. She surrendered four earned runs on nine hits and five walks while striking out two. PBA recorded six hits in the game with just one strikeout at the plate. Gipson, McCloskey, and Haas recorded one hit and one walk each.
