WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team played its first game of the Sunshine State Conference schedule on Friday night against Tampa.
 
It took approximately four hours and 28 minutes and 17 innings of play to decide a winner, but when the dust settled, Tampa (6-3, 1-0 SSC) came out on top of a 2-0 ballgame. The contest was the longest game in PBA (7-4, 0-1 SSC) softball history and Abbey Busby's 17 innings in the circle was the most innings thrown in a single game in program history. The original record for the longest game went 13 innings which was also against Tampa on April 8, 2017. Each team's starting pitchers went the distance in the ballgame.
 
Busby allowed 12 hits and just one earned run in her 17 innings pitched. She struck out seven Tampa batters while surrendering three walks and finished the game with a total of 237 pitches. Maddie Biggs led PBA at the plate with three hits, while Magnolia West, Janie McCloskey, and Edmilly Molina tallied two hits each.
 
The Sailfish finished the game with a total of 14 runners left on base. This is the first game the 'Fish have been shutout this season. Overall, PBA finished with 10 team hits and four walks, but no runs and 15 strikeouts.
 
Tampa got the leadoff batter on base to start the top of the 17th inning with a single to centerfield. A pop-up to second base got the first out of the inning, but another base hit through the left-side of the infield put runners on first and second. A passed ball moved both runners into scoring position. The first run was plated thanks to a squeeze play where a bunt put the ball in play and Katherine Budnovich's tag at the plate was just a tick too late. The Spartans scored their second run on a sacrifice fly to left field to take the 2-0 lead. PBA went down quietly in the bottom of the inning.
 
PBA wraps up its series against the Spartans tomorrow with a doubleheader. The start time for game one at Simpson Field is scheduled for 12 p.m.