WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team returned to the win column when it hosted Lynn on Wednesday night at Simpson Field.
 
The Sailfish (10-7, 8-5 SSC) earned a much-needed sweep against the Fighting Knights (0-17, 0-13 SSC) as elite defense was the key to both PBA victories as it did not record an error in either game. Janie McCloskey was the power source for the Sailfish offense in game one. She drove in every run for the Sailfish, who won the game 4-1. Cambria Arturo was lights out in the circle in the second game, tossing her first complete-game shutout in a 3-0 win.
 
PBA travels to Boca Raton, Fla. on Saturday for another doubleheader to conclude the series. Game one is scheduled to start at 12:00 p.m.
 
Game One: PBA 4, Lynn 1
 
Game one started with a bang as McCloskey gave the 'Fish a quick 3-0 lead by sending a three-run blast over the left field fence to drive in Meredith Milam and Katherine Budnovich. That provided Abbey Busby with early run support in the circle. The senior pitcher surrendered a hit to start the game, but did not allow another Lynn base knock until the sixth inning.
 
McCloskey made more noise in the fifth with an RBI-double which scored Budnovich to make it a 4-0 game. Lynn got on the board in the top of the sixth after two two-out singles, but Busby limited the damage. She slammed the door in the top of the seventh with a three up-three down inning.
 
McCloskey and Faith Allen led PBA with two hits apiece. Budnovich and Milam also tallied a hit each. McCloskey's four RBIs set a new career high for her Sailfish career. She was a perfect 2-for-2 in the contest with a walk. Busby allowed one run on four hits in seven innings pitched with 10 strikeouts and one walk.
 
Game Two: PBA 3, Lynn 0
 
It took until the third inning before the Sailfish took their first lead in game two. Budnovich tomahawked a double down the right field line to score Sammy Perez and make it 1-0 PBA. That was plenty of support for Arturo who turned in her best performance as a Sailfish to date.
 
Arturo mirrored Busby in that after the first inning, the Fighting Knights did not record a hit until the sixth inning. PBA gave its pitcher some breathing room with two runs in the fifth, one coming off a wild pitch and another coming via an RBI double from Budnovich which score Briana Rodriguez from first base. Arturo did her part to finish the shutout in the circle as the Sailfish cruised to the 3-0 win.
 
Budnovich and Allen each turned in 2-for-3 performances at the dish. Arturo allowed just two hits and two walks in seven innings with three strikeouts.