ST AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team traveled up north for a midweek, non-conference doubleheader at Flagler on Wednesday.

Flagler (17-14, 4-5 PBC) used the long ball to its advantage in both games. With game one tied at three in the seventh inning, the Saints hit a walk-off home run to beat the Sailfish, 4-3. The second game was tied at three as it moved to the bottom of the sixth. Flagler pulled away with a five-run sixth inning which included a three-run home run. PBA (10-18, 9-9 SSC) scratched a run across in the seventh, but the Saints took the game 7-3.

The Sailfish resume their SSC schedule this Saturday when they begin a doubleheader with Barry. The first pitch at Simpson Field takes place at 5 p.m.

Game One – Flagler: 4, PBA: 3

PBA got on the board first in game one. Daylin Hejtmanek singled with two outs and used her speed to steal second base and later score on an RBI double from Briana Rodriguez to give the 'Fish a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Flagler answered immediately with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the frame. Three more hits in the inning allowed Flagler to take a 2-1 lead.

The Sailfish regained the lead in the third inning. Meredith Milam and Katherine Budnovich started the inning with singles, followed by a walk by Emma Gipson. Janie McCloskey put the 'Fish back in front with a two-RBI single to left field to make it a 3-2 game. PBA had runners on second and third with no outs but failed to add to its lead. The 'Fish led until the fifth inning when the Saints tied the game at three with a two-out RBI.

The Sailfish mustered baserunners in the sixth and seventh innings but came up empty. Flagler sent the first pitch of the bottom of the seventh over the centerfield fence for the game-winning home run to win, 4-3.

Milam led the Sailfish offense with three of PBA's eight hits. Rodriguez tallied two hits and an RBI. Budnovich went 1-for-4 with a run scored. McCloskey had a team-high two RBIs. Chloe Nepveux got the start in the circle. She pitched three innings allowing two earned runs on six hits with no walks and a strikeout. Cambria Arturo was credited with the loss in relief. She tossed three innings of her own with two earned runs on six hits and no walks.

Game Two – Flagler: 7, PBA: 3

The second game of the day started with a bang as Budnovich homered in the first inning to give the Sailfish a quick, 1-0 lead. Flagler manufactured a run in the bottom of the frame after a leadoff double and two-out hit to tie the game at one run. The Saints struck again in the second with another clutch double with two outs to make it 2-1.

The Sailfish were positioned to do damage in the third inning with runners on first and third with one out. A strikeout and a groundout killed the rally to leave PBA scoreless in the inning. The 'Fish were in a similar situation in the fifth after Budnovich doubled to leadoff the inning. A walk put runners on first and second with one out, but PBA failed to convert again.

PBA broke through in the sixth thanks to an RBI single by Milam that scored Rodriguez. Isabella Hernandez was thrown out at home trying to give the Sailfish the lead. Budnovich walked to pass the baton, but Flagler forced a flyout to end the inning. The Saints scored five runs on five hits, including the home run to put the game out of reach in the sixth. PBA did not go down without a fight, scoring one run on two hits and a walk, but it was not enough to spark a comeback.

Budnovich and McCloskey recorded two hits each. Budnovich added a run scored, a walk, and an RBI. The Sailfish totaled 10 hits in the game with 12 runners left on base. Hayley Haas went 1-for-1 with a walk before being pulled for Hernandez who went 1-for-2 off the bench.

Lacy Marty was the starting pitcher for PBA. She pitched 3.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits with no walks and three strikeouts. Karen Vasquez entered in relief and got PBA out of a jam in the fourth. She pitched 2.1 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and no walks.