LAKELAND, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team concluded its series against Florida Southern with a Saturday doubleheader.

The Sailfish came up short in the first game. FSC (16-19, 5-13 SSC) implemented the same strategy as yesterday's game with seven different pitchers throwing one inning apiece for the Mocs. PBA (13-21, 12-12 SSC) pushed across a pair of runs in the sixth but came up short in game one, 4-2. The Sailfish came back from a 4-0 deficit in the second game. Some errors by the Mocs and some timely hitting allowed PBA to end the series with a 7-5 win.

The 'Fish travel to Nova Southeastern for a Thursday-Friday series this coming week. The first pitch of Thursday's game takes place at 6 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Game One – FSC: 4, PBA: 2

The Mocs got on the board in the third inning. FSC recorded three hits in the inning, including a two-RBI double. The hosts got their third run on a throwing error on a stolen base attempt that allowed the runner to advance home. The Sailfish mustered hits in the first five innings but failed to string together a rally. 

The Mocs added an insurance run in the fourth with an RBI triple to make it a 4-0 game. The Sailfish broke through in the sixth. Maura Glatczak singled, Elisa Grande was hit by a pitch, and Daylin Hejtmanek singled to load the bases with no outs. An error on a dropped popup allowed a pair of runs to score to make it a 4-2 game. Unfortunately for the 'Fish, those were the last runs of the game. FSC retired the 'Fish in order in the seventh to close out the 4-2 win.

Hejtmanek led the 'Fish with a 3-for-3 game with a run scored. Meredith Milam went 2-for-4 with a stolen base. The Sailfish recorded seven hits as a team. Lacy Marty got the start in the circle. She pitched four innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits and no walks with one strikeout. Cambria Arturo tossed two scoreless innings in relief, surrendering one hit with one strikeout. 

Game Two – PBA: 7, FSC: 5

Things looked bleak for the Sailfish as FSC started game two with four runs on four hits and a walk in the bottom of the first. PBA refused to roll over. Walks by Janie McCloskey and Hejtmanek along with a single by Dallas Watterson loaded the bases with one out. Briana Rodriguez drove in PBA's first run with a sacrifice fly to make it a 4-1 game.

Milam singled to start the third, followed by a double by Katherine Budnovich to put runners on second and third. Both players scored on an error by the Mocs to make it 4-3. Emma Gipson advanced to third on the play thanks to another error by the right-fielder, setting up a sacrifice fly from McCloskey to tie the game at 4. The Sailfish took the lead in the fourth inning after more miscues from the Mocs. With Hejtmanek on third and Rodriguez on second, a wild pitch scored Hejtmanek and a throwing error on the same play allowed Rodriguez to come around to score to give the 'Fish a 6-4 lead.

PBA added an insurance run in the sixth with a sacrifice fly by Milam scoring Rodriguez. FSC got two hits in the bottom of the sixth, but Karen Vasquez left the runners stranded. FSC plated one run on two hits and two walks in the seventh, but Arturo entered the game to get the save with the bases loaded in the seventh. PBA held on to win, 7-5.

The 'Fish totaled six hits as a team, with Gipson finishing with a team-high two RBIs. McCloskey went 1-for-1 with a pair of walks and an RBI. Rodriguez went 1-for-2 at the plate with a walk, two runs scored, and an RBI. Hejtmanek had one hit, one walk, and a run scored.

Vasques pitched 6.2 innings with five runs on 11 hits and four walks. Arturo earned her first save of the season, pitching 0.1 innings.