ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team began a Sunshine State Conference series against Eckerd on Friday night.
The Sailfish offense mustered two runs in the contest, but a two-out rally by the Tritons in the fifth inning resulted in five runs. The Sailfish had runners in the final three innings of the game but could not answer the Triton's insurmountable lead. Eckerd took game one of the series, 9-2.
Lauren O'Brien reached on an error and advanced to second on a single by
Evoni Rodriguez. Unfortunately for the Sailfish, a line drive doubled up Rodriguez to end the inning. The Tritons started the game with three singles, quickly gaining a 1-0 lead on a base hit to left field.
Bianca Green led off the third with a single for the Sailfish, but PBA left its leadoff runner stranded. After two quick outs, the Tritons strung together two hits and two walks to make it a 2-0 game. A costly error at first base allowed another run to score and extended the inning. A walk and a single scored three more runs to make it a 6-0 game.
The hosts added one more in the fourth after three walks and an infield single, increasing their lead to 7-0. PBA got on the board in the fifth.
Kaitlyn Campbell walked followed by a single through the left side by
Rylee Little. A double steal set the table for an RBI groundout by
Daylin Hejtmanek. O'Brien came through with a two-out single to score Little and make it 7-2.
Eckerd got a pair of runs back in the bottom half of the frame. A walk, a double, and a pair of singles restored the Triton's 9-2 lead. The Sailfish had a pair of baserunners in the sixth, but both were left stranded. Green singled to lead off the seventh and Hejtmanek reached on an error to start the seventh, but a strikeout and a double play ended the game, 9-2.
Green led the Sailfish with a pair of hits. PBA finished with six hits as a team. Little started in the circle. She pitched 3.2 innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits and four walks with four strikeouts.
Lauren Allen pitched 2.1 innings of relief, giving up two earned runs on six hits with one walk and one strikeout.
The Sailfish are back in action against the Tritons on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.
