MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team began its Sunshine State Conference schedule at Florida Tech on Friday evening.

Two big innings by the Panthers, early in the game, created a large deficit for the Sailfish to battle back from. PBA scored a pair of runs in the second but was overpowered by the Florida Tech offense. The Panthers took game one of the three-game series, 10-2.

The floodgates opened in the second inning. Five hits, including a triple and two walks, led to five runs for the Panthers who took a 5-0 lead. The hosts tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the third on three hits, two walks, and an error, giving Tech an 8-0 lead.

PBA got on the board in the top of the fourth. Evoni Rodriguez doubled to lead off the frame. She advanced to third on a groundout before scoring on a single through the left side by Chloe Nepveux. Rylee Little scored later in the inning after Daylin Hejtmanek drew a bases-loaded walk. Unfortunately for the Sailfish, a lineout stranded three more runners on the bases.

Tech got one run back in the bottom of the fourth. Two hits and a sacrifice fly made it 9-2 through four innings. Larken Maseda doubled in the top of the fifth, but the 'Fish could not push across another run. The game ended in the fifth after a single and three wild pitches brought the 10th run home to score, enacting the run rule.

Rodriguez led the Sailfish offense with two hits and a stolen base. 

PBA is back in action on Saturday with a doubleheader against the Panthers. Game one is set for noon.