WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team hosted West Florida for an afternoon doubleheader on Saturday.
The Sailfish notched their first win of the season in game one after
Karen Vasquez and
Cambria Arturo combined for a shutout. Vasquez earned the win, and Arturo earned the save in a 1-0 win. The second game went the Argos' way as their offense powered up for a 12-0 win.
The Sailfish are scheduled to play a single game against #23 Alabama Huntsville on Sunday. The first pitch at Simpson Field is set for 12:00 p.m.
Game One – PBA: 1, UWF: 0
The Sailfish showcased some great defensive plays in the first game. With runners on first and second in the top of the first, Gracie Mullet caught a line drive and made a throw from right field to double up the runner heading back to first to get out of the inning.
In the third inning, with one runner on base,
Daylin Hejtmanek made a spectacular diving catch in center field to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.
The Sailfish got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Briana Rodriguez,
Evoni Rodriguez, and
Larken Maseda each singled to load the bases for PBA with one out.
Bella O'Connor sent a deep fly ball to left field to score B. Rodriguez and give PBA a 1-0 lead.
That was all the run support the Sailfish pitching staff needed. Vasquez pitched four scoreless innings with just three hits surrendered. Arturo entered in the top of the fifth, tossing three scoreless innings, giving up four hits with one strikeout.
The Sailfish totaled five hits in the game. That was the first PBA win over West Florida since March 2020.
Game Two – UWF: 12, PBA: 0
The Argos bats awoke in the second game, scoring 12 runs after being shut out for their first three games of 2023.
UWF totaled four runs in the second inning, three in the third, and five runs in the fifth. The Sailfish totaled two hits in the game, coming from E. Rodriguez and
Dallas Watterson.
Ashlyn Storms was credited with the loss, surrendering three earned runs on five hits in two innings.
Chloe Nepveux pitched three innings, giving up seven hits and six earned runs. The game was called after the fifth inning due to the run rule.