MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team traveled to Florida Tech to conclude its first Sunshine State Conference series of 2025.
The Sailfish swept the Panthers, highlighted by a three-homerun game in the final game of the series by the PBA offense. The 'Fish earned eight runs on 15 hits through both games, backed by a strong outing from the pitching staff.
PBA is back in action on Feb. 22 for a double-header against Ava Maria. The first pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. (EST) in Ave Maria, Fla.
GAME ONE – PBA: 3, FT: 1
PBA quickly took advantage of errors from the Panthers, seeing Lauren O'Brien reaching first in the opening frame. A Kaycee McClellan single to left field placed runners in scoring position, but they were ultimately left stranded. Lauren Allen was dubbed the start in the circle, seeing her get out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the first to leave the score even, 0-0. A quick second inning saw both teams quiet at the plate until a single from Kaitlyn Campbell in the top of the third sparked the 'Fish momentum. An O'Brien single to right field saw Campbell score and give PBA an early 1-0 lead. A resilient Panthers team quickly evened the score on 1-1 with a walk, single, and a sacrifice bunt.
Entering the top of the fourth, Larken Maseda reached base on a hit by pitch followed by a triple from Rylee Little and scoring off errors to recapture the lead, 3-1. Allen worked diligently in the circle, holding the Panthers to one run as PBA returned to the plate in the top of the fifth. For the remainder of the game, both teams were quiet on offense with PBA holding strong to its 3-1 lead. In a late attempt, the Panthers managed to get two runners aboard until Allen sealed the deal with a pop fly to center field to secure the 3-1 victory.
Allen notched a complete game in the circle. In seven innings pitched, she gave up one earned run on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
GAME TWO – PBA: 5, FT: 2
O'Brien opened up game two with a single up the middle followed by McClellan reaching on a fielder's choice. She advanced on a stolen base to place herself in scoring position, but the inning ended before PBA could capture a lead. Little tabbed the start in the circle, seeing her record her first two strikeouts of the game for a three-up, three-down inning. The top of the second was sparked by a leadoff blast to right field from Marli Szierer, giving the Sailfish a 1-0 lead. Little continued to work diligently, recording her third strikeout and serving up routine plays.
In the top of the third, PBA's offensive outburst continued with another solo shot from Maseda. Her shot to right-center gave the 'Fish a 2-0 lead. The Panthers looked to strike in the bottom of the third, but back-to-back strikeouts got PBA out of the jam and into the fourth inning. Little led off the top of the fourth with a double to left center but was left stranded as PBA was unable to capitalize on their lead.
An action-packed fifth inning opened with O'Brien reaching first by capitalizing on an error before she stole second. With a runner in scoring position, McClellan singled to first to put herself aboard. A fielder's choice for Evoni Rodriguez led PBA to capitalize on another error and increase its lead to 3-0. Rodriguez stole second and Little drew a walk, but the bases were left loaded as the inning closed.
The Panthers looked to cut the deficit, but another strikeout for Little and more routine plays held them at bay. A quick sixth inning saw the Panthers with a sacrifice fly to chip at the deficit, but Maseda quickly retaliated with her second solo blast in the top of the seventh. PBA continued to take advantage of errors from the Panthers, seeing them reach base and take on another run off an RBI single from Nepveux. In a late attempt, the Panthers saw a solo shot to cut the deficit to 5-2, but PBA held strong for the series win.
Little pitched all seven innings, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts.
