Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. - The Lynn University softball team split its opening series with Palm Beach Atlantic University Wednesday night at the Lake Catherine Softball Complex. The Fighting Knights took the opener, 4-2, and dropped game two, 6-1. LU is now 1-1 overall this season while the Sailfish are 3-1.
Game 1 Recap
Callie Darlin was dominant in the first game and earned the win, striking out eight and allowing just one earned run. The sophomore only gave up four hits and three walks.
PBA took the early 2-0 lead in the first but Lynn came back to tie the game in the fourth. Darlin singled to center with one out to start the rally and advanced to second as Danielle O'Rourke walked. A single by Carisa Cook then loaded the bases and with two outs, Brittany Gross singled to center to score both Darlin and O'Rourke.
Lynn then took the lead in the fifth as Mandi Brown led off the fifth with a double to left center. Anne Marie Van Casteren the sacrificed her over to third with a bunt and Brown scored as Kasey Murray reached on a fielder's choice to the pitcher.
Up by one in the top of the seventh, Katrina Lavadan led off the inning with a triple to left and Brown followed up with another double to give Lynn some extra insurance.
After allowing the two early runs, Darlin settled down, striking out the side in the second.
Brown, Van Casteren and Gross each had two hits in the first game while both of Brown's hits went for two bags and Gross recorded two RBI. Brown and Murray also drove in runs for the Knights.
Game 2 Recap
Like the first game, PBA jumped ahead early with three runs in the first and one each in the second and third.
The Knights cut into the lead in the top of the fourth as Mandi Brown got the rally started with a one-out single. Van Casteren followed with a shot to the gap in right center for a triple, scoring Brown all the way from first.
Lynn threatened in the top of the sixth, but was unable to score leaving the bases loaded. PBA capitalized with an unearned run in its half of the inning.
Marianne Johnson got the start in the circle and allowed five earned runs in two-plus innings. Darlin came in with no outs in the third and got out of the inning and allowed just one hit and an unearned run the rest of the way.
Brown, Van Casteren, Cook and Megan Mayfield all recorded base knocks in game two.
Darlin finished the opening series giving up just one earned run in 11 innings of work with 10 strikeouts.
LU is back in action over the weekend when they travel to Columbus, Ga., for the Hughston Sports Clinic Classic hosted by Columbus State University. Lynn will take on Miles College in the opener on Friday and the host Cougars will follow. On Saturday, Lynn will face the Cougars and No. 2 North Georgia and then Miles and the Saints on Sunday.
Fans can follow all of the action by logging onto www.LynnFightingKnights.com and clicking on 'Game Central.'
