WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Palm Beach Atlantic softball dropped the opening game of the weekend conference series against Saint Leo University Friday night at Simpson Field. The Lions (6-6) capitalized on opportunities while the Sailfish (4-5) struggled at the dish for the majority of the game leading to a final score of 6-3 in favor of Saint Leo.

The Lions jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first. Saint Leo scored the first run of the game on an errant throw to first that brought the runner in from second base. The Lions added one more in the inning on a ground out to short in which the Sailfish forfeited the run in exchange for an out.

In the bottom of the second the Sailfish plated their first run when Maddie Biggs grounded out to third but thanks to some good base running Maddie Bertisch was able to scamper in from third base.

Saint Leo scored again in the top of the third on a single to center to give them the lead 3-1. From there Abbey Busby (L, 3-4) settled in and had shutdown fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.

It was in the seventh when the bats came alive as the Lions added three runs to their lead putting the score at 6-1. The Sailfish did not go down easy putting up some runs of their own. Katherine Budnovich knocked in Magnolia West and Biggs on a single up the middle but it was too little too late as Sara Neuman came in for the Lions and finished the game.

Bertisch went 2-for-3 in the game and also had two stolen bases. Busby was 1-for-2 at the dish with a hard double in the left-center gap.

The Sailfish will finish up the series against Saint Leo with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday Feb. 16 at Simpson Field.