SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team traveled across Florida to Saint Leo for its first Sunshine State Conference of 2024 on Friday.

The Sailfish faced off against a Saint Leo team that entered the weekend ranked No. 20 in the NFCA top 25. The Lions took an early 4-0 game before a two-hour rain delay paused the game in the top of the fifth. The Sailfish regrouped during the break and showed some fight, plating three runs to make it a 4-3 game. SLU answered with an insurance run in the sixth and held off the Sailfish comeback to win, 5-3.

The Sailfish totaled six hits in the game, including doubles by Evoni Rodriguez and Alexia Martinez. Karen Vasquez started the game in the circle. She pitched four innings, surrendering three earned runs on seven hits and no walks with three strikeouts. Cambria Arturo pitched the last two innings of relief, giving up one run on three hits and one walk with a strikeout.

Saint Leo got on the board in the bottom of the first. A hit by pitch, a double, and a sac fly made it a 1-0 game. Vasquez forced a strikeout to limit any further damage. The Lions plated two more runs on four hits in the third inning to take a 3-0 lead. An error opened the door for the hosts to score another run in the bottom of the fourth. The runner reached first base on a throwing error, advanced on a groundout, and scored on back-to-back singles to make it 4-0.

The delay happened with one out in the top of the fifth inning. Elisa Grande drew a walk to restart the game. Isabella Hernandez singled through the left side to put two runners on base. A fielder's choice put runners on first and third with two outs. Toree Hoobler came through in the clutch with an RBI single to left field to make it a 4-1 game.

The Sailfish kept their momentum going as Rodriguez doubled with one out in the sixth to set up an RBI single from Bella O'Connor. The 'Fish scored another run after a double to left centerfield by Martinez to make it 4-3. SLU answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth, taking advantage of a leadoff walk. A single put runners on first and third with no outs. Saint Leo scored its fifth run by stealing home after drawing a throw to second base. Unfortunately for the 'Fish, their comeback came up short, going down in order in the seventh to finish the game with SLU on top 5-3.

PBA plays two more games against the Lions on Saturday. The first pitch of game one takes place at noon.