WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team looked to bounce back from yesterday's loss against Barry in a nighttime doubleheader against the Bucs on Saturday night.
 
The Sailfish looked like a new team at the plate in both of tonight's matchups. PBA (15-11, 7-5 SSC) picked up wins in each game to win the series against Barry (13-19, 2-10 SSC). A strong performance at the plate resulted in nine runs for the 'Fish in game one, leading to a 9-3 victory. The Sailfish followed that up with a 4-0 win in game two behind a shutout performance by Abbey Busby.
 
The Sailfish will travel to Winter Haven, Fla. next weekend to compete in the Spring Games. They play games against Shepherd and Edinborough on Saturday with the first pitch against the Rams scheduled for 10 a.m.
 
Game One: PBA 9, Barry 3
 
Barry struck first in the first frame of game one. The Bucs got a runner on courtesy of a walk. The runner stole second and came around to score on an RBI single. PBA responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. Faith Allen started the rally with a leadoff single followed by a Maddie Biggs walk to put runners on first and second with one out. Edmilly Molina got the 'Fish on the board with an RBI single to centerfield to score Allen. Biggs scored on a fly ball from Katherine Budnovich that was dropped due to a collision by the centerfielder and right fielder which made it 2-0 PBA.
 
The 'Fish added to their lead in the bottom of the second thanks to an RBI single by Allen that scored Hannah Carlton. PBA plated another in the fourth thanks to an RBI single by Carlton that scored Budnovich to make it 4-1 PBA. 
 
PBA tacked on some insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth. A single, hit batter and a walk set the table for a 2-RBI single by Molina to make it 6-1. Molina and Biggs scored on a 2-RBI double by Budnovich which made it 8-1 Sailfish. 
 
Barry responded with two runs in the top of the fifth, but it was too little too late as Budnovich shut down the Bucs comeback attempt in the circle. PBA added another run in the bottom of the inning thanks to an RBI groundout by Allen to make it 9-3 which was more than enough run support for Budnovich who shut down Barry to end the game and tie the series.
 
Allen and Budnovich led PBA with three hits each. Molina tallied three RBIs with two hits while Allen and Budnovich added two RBIs each. Carlton also had a two-hit performance with two runs scored and an RBI. Biggs went 1-for-2 at the plate with two walks and two runs scored. Budnovich earned the complete-game win in the circle, surrendering just one earn run on four hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts.
 
Game Two: PBA 4, Barry 0
 
Busby was forced to followed an impressive pitching performance from Budnovich and she delivered. She held the Bucs to three hits and earned the complete-game shutout. Tonight's shutout was her second of the season.
 
Contrary to the first two games of the series, PBA scored first in game two. The Sailfish manufactured a run after Allen led-off with a single and stole second. She advanced on a single by Alexis Guerra and later scored on an RBI groundout by Molina.
 
The Sailfish pulled away from the Bucs in the bottom of the fifth. Magnolia West led-off the inning with a single and moved to second after a sacrifice bunt that allowed Allen to reach on a fielder's choice. Both runners scored on an RBI-double by Biggs to make it 3-1 PBA. She also scored on another double by Molina.
 
That was plenty of run support for Busby who kept Barry batters off balance all game. Allen led the 'Fish with two more hits in game two. Biggs and Molina added two RBIs each.