WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team faced a tough test in the form of No. 6-ranked East Stroudsburg in a doubleheader on Saturday.
The Sailfish were held scoreless in game one, resulting in a 4-0 win for the Warriors. The Sailfish got a spark from their offense midway through the second game, but it wasn't enough to pull off the upset. ESU took the lead late and came out on top, 6-3.
PBA softball competes again on Friday in a single game against Keiser. The first pitch at Simpson Field is set for 6 p.m.
Game One – No. 6 East Stroudsburg: 4 – PBA: 0
The Warriors got on the board early in the first game as ESU used aggressiveness on the basepaths to manufacture some runs. The visitors scored two runs on two hits, three stolen bases, and an error in the first inning. The Sailfish tried to answer in the bottom of the inning. Evoni Rodriguez singled, and Alexia Martinez drew a walk, but a strikeout ended the rally with two runners on base.
ESU made it a 3-0 game in the fourth inning on two hits with an error. Martinez led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk and stole second. She advanced to third on a groundout, but she was stranded there. The visitors tacked on another run in the fifth to make it 4-0.
Natalie Helton and Elisa Grande notched base hits in the bottom of the fifth, but PBA failed to push across a run. The 'Fish went down quietly, 4-0.
Cambria Arturo pitched all seven innings for the 'Fish. She surrendered three earned runs on nine hits and no walks. She struck out two Warrior batters in the game. Grande led the PBA offense, recording two of PBA's four hits.
Game Two – No. 6 East Stroudsburg: 6 – PBA: 3
The Warriors continued their momentum, striking for three runs in the first two innings of action. PBA's offense made some noise in the bottom of the third. Rhiannon Sibbett led off the frame with a single to left, and Natalie Helton was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Toree Hoobler executed a hit and run, slapping a chopper up the middle to score Sibbett. A groundout advanced the runners to second and third, setting up a double from Larken Maseda that made it a 3-3 game.
ESU got back in front in the fifth inning. A single, stolen base, and a walk, set up an RBI single that made it 4-3. The Warriors added two more runs on two doubles in the sixth to take a 6-3 lead. Lauren Allen came off the bench to smack a double for the Sailfish in the seventh. Helton followed with a single, but the 'Fish failed to pull off the comeback.
Larken Maseda led the PBA offense with two hits and two RBI. Ashlyn Storms started the game in the circle. She pitched four innings, giving up four earned runs, on six hits and three walks with a strikeout. Chloe Nepveux pitched one inning of relief, surrendering one earned run on two hits and a walk. Lacy Marty gave up one earned run on one hit. Karen Vasquez pitched a three-pitch top of the seventh.
