WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team finished its final home series of the season at Simpson Field against Rollins on Saturday.
The Sailfish received a strong pitching performance from
Karen Vasquez in the first game of the day. She pitched a complete game and only gave up one earned run, but the Sailfish failed to muster enough run support. PBA lost the first game 2-1. Rollins got off to a strong start in game two. The Sailfish could not recover from a three-run deficit, falling 5-2.
PBA plays its final series of the season next weekend against Florida Tech. The series begins on Friday, with the first pitch scheduled 7 p.m. in Melbourne, Fla.
Game One – RC: 2, PBA: 1
Rollins tried to start a rally in the top of the third inning with a leadoff single. Vasquez was able to field her position well in today's game. She made a diving play on a popup and tossed the ball to first for a double play to stop the Tars' momentum.
PBA took advantage of some shoddy Tars' defense in the bottom of the third inning.
Briana Rodriguez started the rally with a two-out single.
Daylin Hejtmanek reached on an infield single that took an awkward hop in front of second base to put runners on first and third. The Sailfish got a run after an error by Rollins' third baseman to put PBA ahead 1-0.
The lead did not last for long. A leadoff walk followed by a single came back to fight the 'Fish. With runners on first and third, a delayed steal from first baited a late throw to second that was muffed by the Sailfish shortstop and allowed the runner at third to score and tie the game at one.
PBA had another chance to give Vasquez some run support. After two quick outs in the fifth inning, Hejtmanek and
Evoni Rodriguez walked to put a runner in scoring position, but Hejtmanek was thrown out trying to steal third.
The Tars started the seventh inning with a single and a walk. PBA almost pulled off another double play with a popup caught by a diving
Bella O'Connor. Her throw to first base to double off the runner was wild which allowed a run to score. The blunder gave Rollins a 2-1 lead. PBA went down in order in the seventh.
The Sailfish totaled four hits in the game. Vasquez gave up one earned run in seven innings on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
Game Two – RC: 5, PBA: 2
Rollins kept its momentum going in game two. The Tars scored two runs in the first inning on a leadoff walk, a double, and a single to take a 2-0 lead. The visitors added one more in the fourth inning with three hits, including an RBI single down the left-field line.
After a pitching change for the Tars, the Sailfish got one run back in the bottom of the fourth inning. E. Rodriguez was hit to start the inning and stole second and third base.
Dallas Watterson walked and
Larken Maseda was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs for the 'Fish. Rollins then re-entered its starting pitcher who struck out O'Connor for the first out of the inning.
Elisa Grande drove a run in with a groundball to third that was just enough to score the run from third. That was all the damage PBA could do as Rollins limited the damage.
A two-run home run from the Tars made it a 5-1 game in the fifth inning. The Sailfish answered with three singles in the bottom of the fifth, including an RBI single from Maseda to make it 5-2. The Sailfish stranded two more runners in the inning. PBA could not get a rally going in the sixth or seventh to complete the comeback, falling 5-2.
Cambria Arturo got the start for PBA in the circle. She pitched five innings, giving up five runs on eight hits and one walk.
Ashlyn Storms pitched two scoreless innings of relief. She gave up one hit and one walk with three strikeouts.
E. Rodriguez led the Sailfish with two hits, two runs scored, and two stolen bases. Maseda had one run and an RBI. The freshman catcher also threw out two runners trying to steal in the game.
