TAMPA, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team continued its series against Tampa on Saturday.
 
PBA (5-3, 4-2 SSC) started the day by clinching the series against the Spartans, winning game one, 3-1. Abbey Busby moved to 4-0 on the season despite giving up her first earned run of the year. PBA had a chance for the sweep in game two, but fell short to Tampa, 4-2
 
The Sailfish return west when they travel to face No. 11 Saint Leo on Thursday. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
Game 1: PBA 3, Tampa 1
 
Similar to the first game on Wednesday, Tampa (1-3, 1-2 SSC) started the game with a 1-0 run in the first inning. The one and only run by the Spartans scored following a leadoff hit, sacrifice bunt, and RBI single. 
 
PBA mustered its first hit of the game in the fourth inning on a Briana Rodriguez leadoff single. Meredith Milam's single and stolen base put runners on second and third with one out. A passed ball got the Sailfish on the board, tying the game at one. Milam scored on an RBI double by Katherine Budnovich which gave PBA a 2-1 lead. Hayley Haas started the fifth frame with another leadoff single. She advanced on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on an RBI triple by Faith Allen which made it 3-1.
 
The Spartans were unable to answer as Busby continued to frustrate Tampa bats throughout the rest of the game. The hosts brought the tying run to the plate, but Busby shut down any idea of a Spartan rally. She finished with one earned run in seven innings pitched with five strikeouts and no walks. Allen and Milam tallied two hits each in the game. PBA finished with seven hits as a team.
 
Game 2: Tampa 4, PBA 2
 
The Spartans avoided the sweep by jumping out to a larger lead in game two. Tampa pushed runs across in each of the first three innings. The Spartans scored in the first frame for the third time in the four-game series. Timely hitting helped the Spartans as three of their four runs came on two-out RBI base hits.
 
PBA tallied hits in each of the first three innings, but the 'Fish were unable to string them together. The visitors finally got on the board in the fourth inning. With one out in the frame, Singles from Milam, Maura Glatczak and Budnovich made it a 4-1 game. An error loaded the bases for PBA, followed by an RBI fielder's choice by Haas to make it 4-2 through four innings. 
 
Allen started the fifth with her fourth hit of the day, to try to keep the momentum on PBA's side, but she was stranded on base. The 'Fish brought the tying run to the plate again in the seventh, but PBA was unable to capitalize as Tampa ended the series with a 4-2 win.
 
Allen and Budnovich led PBA with two hits each. Cambria Arturo started the game in the circle for the Sailfish. She tossed three innings with six hits, four runs, one walk and a strikeout. Taylor Pennica pitched three scoreless innings in relief to keep PBA in reach. She surrendered six hits and one walk with one strikeout.