WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Palm Beach Atlantic softball opened up their 2018 postseason play on Thursday, defeating the Albany State University Rams by a 4-0 score at Simpson Field.  The 'Fish scored all four of their runs in the fifth inning, and held the Ram's offense down all night to win in shutout fashion.  The Sailfish pick up their first postseason win since 2010 with the victory on Thursday.

PBA and Albany State were locked in a pitcher's duel early on in Thursday's game, as both teams combined for just five hits no runs in the first four and a half innings.  Ashton Adkins for the Sailfish and Aryn McGowan for the Rams both held the lineups down until the fifth inning.

Claudia Pizzarelli got things started for the Sailfish in the fifth as she drew a one-out walk.  Alexis Guerra followed and reached on an error, and was followed by Maddie Biggs who also reached via walk.  With the bases loaded, Taylor Pennica chopped a ball to the third baseman, and Pizzarelli slid in just ahead of the tag to put the Sailfish on the scoreboard.  After a Magnolia West RBI hit-by-pitch, Maddie Bertisch smoked a single to right field, giving the Sailfish a 3-0 lead.  The Sailfish picked up their fourth run on an RBI ground out from Michaela Hynes.

Adkins continued her dominance on the night, as she finished with six shutout innings, striking out six and allowing just three hits.  Jana Wagner shut the door on the Rams, and the Sailfish completed the shutout. 

The Sailfish finished with five hits on the night, as Bertisch was the only one with multiple hits in the game.

The Sailfish will face off with Alabama-Huntsville at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Simpson Field in a winner's bracket game.