BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Lynn softball team split its Sunshine State Conference series doubleheader against Palm Beach Atlantic on Saturday afternoon, falling 2-1 in a tightly contested opener before responding with a 3-1 victory in game two at Tish Celenza Messinger Stadium. Despite a strong complete-game effort from Kayley Zazzali in the first game, the Fighting Knights were undone by a pair of unearned runs, but bounced back behind timely hitting and a complete-game performance from Gabriella Lindsey to secure the split.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game #1):
- Both teams came out quiet early, as Lynn and Palm Beach Atlantic went scoreless through the first inning with just one baserunner combined
- PBA threatened in the second with a triple, but Lynn's defense held strong to keep the game scoreless
- Lynn broke through in the bottom of the second, as Teagan Riley led off with a triple before Aiyana Hicks drove her in with an RBI single to give the Fighting Knights a 1-0 lead
- The Blue and White carried that momentum into the middle innings, holding Palm Beach Atlantic hitless in the third and maintaining the one-run advantage
- Palm Beach Atlantic capitalized in the fourth, using a walk, hit-by-pitch, and single to load the bases before taking advantage of a Lynn error and a passed ball to score two unearned runs and take a 2-1 lead
- Lynn was unable to respond offensively in the fourth and fifth innings, managing just one baserunner during that stretch
- Both pitching staffs settled in late, as the Sailfish worked out of a sixth-inning threat and Lynn stranded multiple runners while keeping the deficit at one
- PBA put pressure on in the seventh with two hits and the tying run at third, but Lynn's defense came up clutch with a key out at the plate to keep it a one-run game
- The Fighting Knights went down in order in the bottom of the seventh, as Palm Beach Atlantic held on for the 2-1 victory
 
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS (Game #1):
- Riley led Lynn offensively, going 1-for-3 with a run scored and a triple to spark the offense
- Hicks drove in the lone run for the Fighting Knights, finishing 1-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base
- Onnalee Floriano added a hit, going 1-for-3 at the plate
- In the circle, Kayley Zazzali delivered a strong complete-game effort, tossing 7.0 innings, allowing just two runs (0 earned) on six hits while striking out three
- Lynn's lone extra-base hit came from Riley's triple, while Hicks accounted for the team's only RBI
 

---

 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game #2):
- Palm Beach Atlantic went down in order to start the game, as Lynn's defense recorded three straight outs in the first inning
- Lynn threatened in the bottom half, putting two runners on with a walk and a single, but stranded both to keep the game scoreless
- PBA put two runners on in the second with back-to-back singles, but a heads-up defensive play by the Blue and White erased the threat and kept it 0-0
- Lynn broke through in the second, as Aiyana Hicks singled and used aggressive baserunning with two stolen bases before Allie Morgan delivered an RBI bunt single to make it 1-0
- The Fighting Knights added on in the third, as Teagan Riley crushed an RBI triple to right before Marina Goins lifted a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 3-0
- Palm Beach Atlantic threatened in the fourth with a runner reaching third, but Lynn's defense turned a key out to end the inning and preserve the shutout
- The Sailfish got on the board in the sixth, using a leadoff bunt single, stolen base, and RBI groundout to cut the deficit to 3-1
- PBA made one final push in the seventh, putting two runners on with two outs, but Lynn forced a fielder's choice to end the threat
- The Fighting Knights held firm defensively, securing the 3-1 victory behind timely hitting and strong situational defense
 
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS (Game #2):
- Floriano led the offense, going 2-for-3 with a run scored to pace Lynn at the plate
- Riley finished 1-for-3 with an RBI triple and a run scored, delivering a key extra-base hit in the third inning
- Hicks went 1-for-3 with a run scored and two stolen bases, creating havoc on the basepaths
- Morgan drove in a run with an RBI single, while Marina Goins added an RBI via sacrifice fly
- In the circle, Gabriella Lindsey tossed a complete game, allowing just one run on six hits over 7.0 innings to earn the win
- Lindsey did not record a strikeout but relied on contact management, forcing 10 groundouts and limiting damage throughout the game
 
UP NEXT:
Lynn will head to Daytona Beach next weekend to take on Embry-Riddle in a three-game SSC showdown kicking off with game one on Friday night at 6 pm.