ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Aggressive baserunning by Palm Beach Atlantic and a pair of untimely errors by Eckerd made a major difference in Friday's series opener between the two teams.
The Sailfish scored three runs off two Triton errors while Abbey Busby tossed a one-hitter as PBA took a 4-1 win. Â All three of those runs came with two outs and the bases empty.
Skylar Redish had EC's only hit, a solo homerun in the fourth.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Palm Beach Atlantic 4, Eckerd 1
WP: Busby (13-6) Â
LP: Van Gennep (6-9) Â
HR: Redish (4)
Records: Eckerd 11-15 (3-7 SSC); Palm Beach Atlantic 17-14 (5-5 SSC)
KEY MOMENTS
- After both teams saw their first six batters retired in order, PBA broke through in the third after a single and hit batter opened the inning. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position where Magnolia West drove in Hannah Carlton with a single to left.
- Redish crushed a one-out solo homerun to left-center to break up Busby's no-hitter.
- Van Gennep retired the first two batters in the fifth before West reached on a single and swiped second. Maddie Bertisch followed with an infield single that drew a wild throw, allowing West to score the go-ahead run.
- Hannah Famiano drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the sixth, but Eckerd was unable to bring a run home.
- After the first two batters were retired in the seventh, a hit batter and a walk put two runners aboard. Another error on a wild throw to first got far enough away from the Triton defense that both runners were able to score, giving the Sailfish a 4-1 lead.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Redish's homerun, her fourth of the season, was only the third allowed by Busby this season.
- Van Gennep only allowed five hits - all singles - and surrendered only one earned run.
- Torres's error in the seventh was her first since February 16. Â She had previously gone 49 straight chances without an error.
UP NEXT
The two teams face off in a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 12:00 PM.
