WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team battled hard but ultimately fell 10-7 to Florida Tech in a thrilling extra-inning showdown at Simpson Field on Friday.

PBA (2-6) notched a season-high 13 hits, with a big home run from Marli Szierer, yet couldn't hold off Florida Tech's (7-3-1) late-game offensive burst.

The 'Fish jumped to an early lead as Miranda Rollins reached second on a slick bunt single and capitalized on a throwing error to make it 1-0 by the first inning's end. Florida Tech answered in the third with Miranda Schwartz's two-run homer, putting them ahead 2-1. Another run in the fourth extended the Panthers' lead to 3-1.

In the sixth, Szierer blasted a solo homer to close the gap to 3-2. The seventh inning saw Rylee Little's fielder's choice allow Lauren O'Brien to score, leveling the game at 4-4 and pushing it into extras. Both teams had chances in the ninth and tenth innings, but the score remained deadlocked.

Rylee Little showcased incredible stamina on the mound, pitching a marathon 11 innings and racking up a career-high 15 strikeouts on 228 pitches.

The twelfth inning was electric, with Tech plating three runs, including a two-run double by Haley Rider. PBA answered with three runs of its own, thanks to clutch RBI hits from Dianna Montidoro and O'Brien, keeping the game tied at 7-7.

However, the thirteenth was the deciding frame. A two-run homer by Emma Chisholm sealed a 10-7 victory for Florida Tech over the Sailfish.

Szierer made a significant impact with her home run and two RBIs across seven plate appearances. Little contributed two hits and an RBI, drawing two walks in her six at-bats. Montidoro had a standout performance with a season-high four hits, including two doubles, scoring twice and adding an RBI in her seven trips to the plate. O'Brien also chipped in with two RBIs and a crucial double among her six at-bats, walking once and scoring a run.

In relief roles, Lauren Allen pitched 1 1/3 innings, surrendering one run on zero hits, with two walks and 16 strikes out of 33 pitches. Ashlyn Storms added 1/3 of an inning, striking out one on just six pitches, without allowing a hit or walk.

The Sailfish played a doubleheader against the Panthers on Saturday. First pitch of game one is set for 2 p.m.