WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team began their three-game series against Barry on Friday night at Simpson Field.
 
Both teams received excellent performances from their starting pitchers in the circle; however, Barry (13-15, 2-8 SSC) came out on the winning end of a 1-0 pitcher's duel. Today's game marks the second straight home game that PBA (13-11, 5-5 SSC) has been shutout, despite outhitting the Bucs, 5-2.
 
PBA struggled to string any hits together in the ballgame. It seemed like they may have had a chance to score in the second inning during a two-out rally. Hannah Carlton got on base with an infield single, followed by another infield single by Liz Albertini; however, Carlton was thrown out trying to advance to third to end the inning.
 
Abbey Busby was pitching another gem in the circle for the Sailfish. She did not surrender her first hit until the third inning which stayed in the infield. The runner was caught stealing by a perfect throw from Maddie Biggs to clear the bases. Busby ended the inning with a groundout to keep the game scoreless.
 
Faith Allen led off the bottom of the third with a single, but PBA was unable to advance any runner past first base in the inning. With Alexis Guerra on first base, Biggs sent a high-fly ball to left centerfield that may have gone out of the park on a normal night; however, the gusty wind blowing in forced the ball to fall short of the fence and into the glove of the centerfielder to end the frame. Edmilly Molina had a leadoff double in the bottom of the fourth. She advanced to third on a groundout, but she was left stranded.
 
The Barry rally started with one out in the top of the seventh. A single put the game-winning run on base, and a pinch-runner stole second to move into scoring position. She advanced on a fielder's choice which put runners on first and third for the Bucs. The winning-run scored courtesy of a squeeze play with the throw at the plate coming too late. Barry was limited to one run in the inning, but that was all the Bucs needed as the Sailfish went down quietly in the bottom of the inning. 
 
Busby only gave up two hits in the game in seven innings pitched with no walks and five strikeouts. She only faced four batters over the minimum, with just one run scored. PBA only struckout three times in the game, but struggled to find a hole in the Barry defense. 
 
The Sailfish will complete their series with the Bucs tomorrow with a night doubleheader. The first pitch of game one is scheduled for 5 p.m.