ST. LEO, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team faced a tough test in the form of No. 11 Saint Leo on the road on Thursday.
 
The 'Fish were up to the challenge in game one as Abbey Busby tossed her second complete-game shutout of the season in route to a 4-0 PBA win. SLU rebounded in the second game. A costly Sailfish error allowed the Lions to jump out to an early lead and they never looked back, taking the nonconference game by a score of 8-1.
 
The Sailfish will conclude their series against the Lions with a Saturday doubleheader. First pitch at Simpson field is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
Game One: PBA 4, SLU 0
 
PBA tried to get a rally going early in game one as Briana Rodriguez started the contest with a single up the middle, but she was stranded to end the frame. That was the story of the first three innings of action for the 'Fish. PBA left runners on base in two of the first three innings.
 
The game was scoreless through the first three frames as Busby held the Lions lineup hitless their first time through the order. PBA looked like it was going to strand another baserunner, but with two outs, Janie McCloskey got the 'Fish on the scoreboard with a two-run home run to left-centerfield. SLU tried to answer in the bottom of the frame, getting runners to second and third, but Busby forced two groundouts to keep the score at 2-0.
 
PBA added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth inning. Singles by Dallas Watterson and Rodriguez gave PBA runners at the corners with one away. A wild pitch allowed Watterson to score and moved the speedy Rodriguez to second base. The Mercer transfer stole third base before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Faith Allen to make it 4-0 PBA.
 
The Lions loaded the bases in both the sixth and seventh innings, but Busby worked her way out of both jams. She finished with eight strikeouts in seven innings pitched, surrendering five hits, three walks and two hit batters. She earned her second shutout of the season and the 12th of her career, to tie Amber Johnson for second-most in PBA's DII-era. 
 
Rodriguez and Watterson led the 'Fish with two hits each. McCloskey's home run was the ninth in her career, moving her to sole possession of sixth on PBA's DII-era home run leaders list.
 
Game Two: SLU 8, PBA 1
 
Taylor Pennica took the circle for PBA in the second game. She nearly ended the bottom of the first unscathed, but an error with two outs by the 'Fish allowed two runs to score. The Lions started the game with a 3-0 lead.
 
The 'Fish responded in the top of the second inning. Two walks gave PBA two baserunners with one out. Watterson doubled to score McCloskey and make it a 3-1 game. Unfortunately for the visitors, the Lions struck for three more runs in the bottom of the second frame to take a commanding 6-1 lead.
 
After a lightning delay paused the game, SLU extended its lead to 8-1. The Sailfish totaled seven hits in the game, but left eight runners on base in the contest. Pennica finished with three earned runs in two innings pitched with a strikeout. Cambria Arturo pitched four innings of relief with two earned runs and three strikeouts. Katherine Budnovich led PBA with two hits.