ST. LEO, Fla. – Palm Beach Atlantic softball won a thriller on Thursday night, as they overcame a 4-2 deficit in the final inning to defeat the Lions by a 6-4 final.  The Sailfish, who clinched the Sunshine State Conference championship last weekend, improved to 31-6 overall and 24-4 in SSC play.  The Lions drop to 32-12 overall and 16-12 in league play.

The Sailfish struck first on Thursday, as senior Michaela Hynes launched a two-run homer to left in the first inning, scoring Magnolia West who reached on a walk. 

Abbey Busby got the start in the circle for the Sailfish in the series opener, and did a good job keeping the strong Saint Leo offense off the scoreboard early on.  Busby had a shutout going into the fifth, where two Sailfish errors extended the inning.  The Lions capitalized on the mistakes by the 'Fish, and scored four runs in the frame, highlighted by a three-run homer from Alyssa Wash.

The Sailfish trailed 4-2 heading to the seventh inning, where Brianna Rano led off with an infield single. After a strikeout, Kaley Hinds reached on an infield single.  West continued the rally with a bunt single, and Alexis Guerra lined an RBI single to right field to pull the 'Fish to within one run.  Hynes then gave the Sailfish a 5-4 lead with a two-RBI single to left field, and PBA added another run on a Hannah Carlton single.

Ashton Adkins entered the game in the bottom of the seventh, as she was called upon to try and close out the win for the Sailfish.  The senior was dominant in the frame, as she struck out the side in order, picking up her fifth save and sealing the win for the Sailfish.

Busby improves to 14-1 with the win, as the freshman didn't allow an earned run in her six innings of work.

West, Hynes, and Maddie Bertisch all collected two hits for the Sailfish, as Hynes led the way with four RBIs in Thursday's game.

The Sailfish and Lions will conclude their series with a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 11 am.