The Palm Beach Atlantic softball competed against Kutztown on Wednesday night in a single nonconference game.
The Sailfish effectively threw four different pitchers in a bullpen game. An error kept the Bears (6-8, 0-0 PSAC) alive in the second inning and led to two runs for the visitors. PBA (8-13, 1-6 SSC) was missing its clutch hitting, leaving four runners on base. The ‘Fish pushed across one run, but it wasn’t enough, falling 3-1.
Evoni Rodriguez led PBA with two hits. Ashlyn Storms got the start in the circle. She pitched two innings, giving up two unearned runs on two hits with two strikeouts. Lacy Marty was next up, throwing two hitless innings in relief and striking out five. Chloe Nepveux tossed one inning, giving up a run on two hits and a walk. Karen Vasquez pitched two scoreless innings with one walk and one strikeout.
The Bears led off the second with a single off Storms, but the freshman forced a fielder’s choice and a groundout in hopes of escaping the inning. She forced another groundball, but it was bobbled and allowed another batter to make it to the plate. Kutztown took advantage of the error, smacking a two-run double off the fence to take a 2-0 lead.
Marty pitched a stellar two innings. She struck out two in the third and struck out the side in the fourth. KU scored one run in the fifth on two hits, including a two-out single to centerfield.
The Sailfish got a rally going in the fifth. It started with a single up the middle by Kendall Baer. She scored on a two-out double from Bella O’Connor to make it a 3-1 game through five innings.
PBA had a chance to tie it up in the sixth. Briana Rodriguez and Evoni Rodriguez each singled before moving to second and third on a fielder’s choice. A walk by Elisa Grande loaded the bases with two outs, but PBA couldn’t get the clutch hit it needed. The ‘Fish went down in order in the seventh.
The Sailfish return to playing their SSC schedule this weekend with a three-game series at Eckerd. The first pitch on Friday night is scheduled for 6 p.m.