WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team finished its series against Florida Tech with a Saturday doubleheader.

PBA looked to bounce back after dropping Friday night's game. The Panthers took an early lead at the beginning of game one, but the Sailfish showed some fight at the plate. The 'Fish dropped the first game 9-5, but PBA's good at-bats at the end of the first game carried over into the second game. The Sailfish exploded for six runs in the first inning and seven in the second inning to take an early 13-2 lead in game two. PBA won the second game 14-3 in five innings, ending the weekend with a dominant win.

The Sailfish have a quick turnaround, facing Kutztown in a nonconference doubleheader on Monday. The first pitch of game one takes place at 5 p.m. at Simpson Field.

Game One – FT: 9 – PBA: 5

Florida Tech's bats stayed hot to start the day. The Panthers scored three runs on four hits, including a home run in the first inning to take an early 3-0 lead. PBA answered in the bottom of the inning. Evoni Rodriguez and Larken Maseda singled to start a rally. Rodriguez went first to third on Maseda's single, setting up a sac fly from Bella O'Connor to make it 3-1.

The visitors tacked on three more runs in the second inning on four hits. Six runs from FT knocked PBA starter Lacy Marty out of the game. Ashlyn Storms entered the game in relief, tossing scoreless innings in the third and fourth. The Panthers broke through against the sophomore in the fifth, scoring three runs on three hits to take a 9-1 lead.

At the risk of getting run-ruled, the Sailfish offense showed life in the bottom of the fifth. Rhiannon Sibbett and Alexia Martinez singled to put runners on first and third with one out. An error by the Panthers allowed one run to score. Maseda followed with a two-run double to leftfield, making it 9-4 and keeping PBA alive for at least another inning. Isabella Hernandez drove in Maseda with an RBI single to make it 9-5. Unfortunately for the 'Fish, they failed to complete the comeback.

Maseda and Sibbett lead the 'Fish with two hits each. PBA totaled nine hits as a team. Marty pitched two innings in the circle, giving up six runs on eight hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Storms tossed five innings, giving up three runs on four hits with no walks and no strikeouts.

Game Two – PBA: 14, FT: 3

The Sailfish flipped the script on the Panthers in the second game. PBA got ahead early, starting the game with hits from Martinez, Rodriguez, and Maseda. Maseda's RBI single to rightfield started the scoring, driving in Martinez. Maseda stole second to put runners on second and third. Hernandez singled to centerfield, and the ball got by the centerfield to plate two more runs. Chloe Nepveux put the ball in play, leading to a FT error, scoring Hernandez. Natalie Helton singled to keep the rally going. Madison Schlichte singled up the middle, and the ball got away from the centerfielder again, allowing Helton to come home. Another error by the Panthers allowed Schlichte to score to make it 6-0 Sailfish in the first inning.

The Panthers answered with two runs off a walk, a single, and a double in the second, making it a 6-2 game. PBA added to its lead, starting the bottom of the frame with six hits, including a pair of RBI doubles from O'Connor and Hernandez. Schlichte followed with a bloop single to right field that scored Hernandez. Sibbett drove in Nepveux with an RBI single before Martinez brought Schlichte home with a fielder's choice, giving PBA a 13-2 lead.

O'Connor added an insurance run for the Sailfish in the third inning. She led off the bottom of the frame with a solo home run, hitting a no-doubter to left field that left Simpson Field in a hurry.

14 runs proved to be plenty of run support for Cambria Arturo and Lauren Allen in the circle. Allen finished the game on the rubber, finishing the 14-3 win for PBA. Arturo earned the win, giving up three runs (two earned) in four innings on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Allen pitched an inning of relief, giving up a hit and hitting two batters. She got out of the inning unscathed with a strikeout.

PBA totaled 16 hits in the game. Martinez, Rodriguez, Maseda, O'Connor, Hernandez, and Schlichte tallied two hits each. O'Connor led the 'Fish with four RBIs, including a double and home run. Hernandez finished with two RBIs of her own.