WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team concluded its series against Florida Tech in a Saturday doubleheader.
The Sailfish offense picked up where it left off last night, putting up nine innings in game one, leading to a 9-5 lead and clinching the series. After game one ended, the rain came down and caused an hour and a half delay for game two. The second game was played under windy, cold, and damp conditions. PBA's (9-9, 8-4 SSC) bats cooled off as Florida Tech (20-10, 6-6 SSC) avoided the sweep, winning 5-0.
The Sailfish have a quick turnaround, playing a doubleheader against Kutztown on Monday. The first pitch of game one takes place at 3 p.m. at Simpson Field.
Game One – PBA: 9, FT: 5
Florida Tech struck early in the first inning, scoring three runs on four hits and a walk. PBA returned the favor in the bottom of the second.
Katherine Budnovich and
Meredith Milam drew walks before
Emma Gipson sent a home run over the left-field fence to tie the game at three. PBA took the lead in the second inning.
Briana Rodriguez reached on a single and advanced to third on a double by Budnovich. A wild pitch allowed Rodriguez to score with an RBI groundout by
Janie McCloskey driving in Budnovich to give the Sailfish a 5-3 lead.
The PBA lead did not last long. Florida Tech led off the inning with a pair of singles and a sac bunt to put runners on second and third. A wild pitch from PBA allowed one run to score, followed by a sacrifice fly to tie the game at five.
Chloe Nepveux entered the game in relief and had a stellar outing for the Sailfish. She cut the Panther's rally short in the third and shut down Florida Tech the rest of the way.
The Sailfish pulled away in the bottom of the sixth.
Hayley Haas and
Daylin Hejtmanek led off the inning with a pair of singles. That set up an RBI single by Rodriguez to score Haas. Budnovich followed with an RBI single of her own to score Hejtmanek and made it 7-5. Milam kept the rally going with a blooper to left field to score Rodriguez and give PBA an 8-5 lead. Lastly, Gipson drove in Budnovich with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to make it 9-5 heading into the seventh. The Panthers got two baserunners in the seventh, but ran themselves out of the inning, getting thrown out trying to score to end the game with PBA winning 9-5.
Budnovich and Milam tallied two hits, one walk, and an RBI each. Budnovich crossed home plate three times while Gipson led PBA with four RBIs.
Lacy Marty started in the circle, pitching 2.2 innings. She gave up four earned runs on seven hits with two walks. Nepvuex tossed 4.1 scoreless innings in relief, giving up just three hits.
Game Two – FT: 5, PBA: 0
Florida Tech wasted no time starting the scoring in game two. The Panthers scored one run on one hit and two walks in the first inning. Florida Tech added three more in the second inning on three hits, a walk, and a hit by a pitch to take a 3-0 lead.
The chilly weather cooled down the Sailfish bats in game two. PBA tallied three hits in the contest. PBA was set up to get on the board in the third with two walks to lead off the inning, but a double play killed the rally. The 'Fish had baserunners with less than two outs in the fifth and sixth inning but came up empty.
Maura Glatczak tallied two of PBA's three hits.
The Panthers added an insurance run in the seventh with a walk, stolen base, and a single to take a five-run lead. Florida Tech completed the shutout and avoided the sweep with a 5-0 win.
Karen Vasquez got the start in the circle. She pitched a complete game, surrendering five runs on seven hits and five walks with two strikeouts.
