WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team began its series against Florida Tech on Friday night.

The runs were plenty, but the defense was gaunt in the series opener. Both teams combined for six errors in the game. The Sailfish (8-8, 7-3 SSC) played from behind early in the contest but bounced back from two deficits to win, 8-6. 

Some hard-hit balls from the Panthers (19-9, 5-5 SSC) combined with some defensive miscues allowed Florida Tech to take a quick, 2-0 lead in the top of the first. PBA answered in the second inning thanks to three walks to start the inning. Hayley Haas drew the fourth walk of the inning to get PBA on the board. Daylin Hejtmanek tied the game at two with an RBI single. Briana Rodriguez gave the 'Fish a 3-2 lead with an RBI groundout.

Florida Tech took advantage of two more Sailfish errors along with a pair of doubles to score three more runs and lead 5-3. The Sailfish bounced back again in the bottom of the inning. Hejtmanek hit a sac fly to centerfield to score Sammy Perez. Later in the inning, Meredith Milam singled through the left side with the bases loaded to score Rodriguez and Haas. Janie McCloskey kept the rally going with an RBI single to score Katherine Budnovich give PBA an 8-5 lead.

Florida Tech got one more in the top of the fifth, but Chloe Nepveux shut down the Panthers the rest of the way. She earned her first career save as PBA won, 8-6.

Milam led PBA with two hits, an RBI, and a run. The Sailfish offense totaled seven hits and five walks in the game. Hejtmanek finished with a team-high two RBIs. Cambria Arturo got the start in the circle. She tossed four innings, surrendering two earned runs on five hits and one walk. Nepveux pitched three innings in relief, giving up one run on three hits.

The Sailfish conclude their series against the Panthers on Saturday in a doubleheader. The first pitch of game one takes place at 12 p.m.