WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Palm Beach Atlantic softball defeated the University of Tampa on Friday, defeating the Spartans by an 8-0 score at Simpson Field in six innings.  The Sailfish improve to 28-3 on the season and 21-1 in Sunshine State Conference play and are now just one win away from clinching the SSC Championship.  Tampa falls to 21-15 on the season with the loss in the series opener.

Both pitchers were in control early on, as Makaleigh Dooley and Abbey Busby kept the offenses off the scoreboard through the first three innings of play. 

The Sailfish broke through in the fourth inning, as Maddie Bertisch doubled to left field with one out, scoring pinch-runner Brianna Rano and giving the 'Fish a 1-0 lead.  The Sailfish added another run on a squeeze bunt by Loren Kilgore, who reached on a single on the play.  The Sailfish scored their third run in the inning on a Spartan error, and scored the final two on a two-RBI single from Magnolia West.

After a couple more scoreless innings in the circle from Busby, the Sailfish scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to secure the mercy-rule victory.  The big hit in the inning came from Hannah Carlton, who ended the game with a two-RBI single to center field.

Busby improves to 12-1 on the season with the complete-game shutout, as the freshman allowed just four hits and struck out two batters along the way.

West and Bertisch finished with three hits each, as West finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Bertisch finished 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.  Carlton also finished with multiple hits in the game, as the sophomore finished 2-for-3. 

The Sailfish and Spartans will be back at Simpson Field tomorrow for a doubleheader which will begin at noon.  The six Sailfish seniors will be honored between games of Saturday's doubleheader.