WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic softball team played its home opener under the lights at Simpson Field on Friday night. 

The Sailfish were coming off a three-game sweep over Lynn last weekend where the offense put up a total of 28 runs. The PBA bats cooled off on Friday night as the 'Fish were held to one run on four hits. PBA brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but its comeback fell short. Eckerd hung on to win, 3-1.

Cambria Arturo got the start in the circle for PBA. She pitched seven innings with two earned runs on six hits and four walks with seven strikeouts. Katherine Budnovich led the PBA offense with two hits and an RBI.

The Tritons struck first in the top of the second. A PBA error kept the inning alive for Eckerd who capitalized with an RBI single to left field to take a 1-0 lead. The visitors doubled their lead in the fifth inning thanks to a leadoff double and a single. Arturo struck out two batters in the inning to stop the bleeding at one run. PBA tried to answer in the bottom of the inning as Budnovich singled and stole second base with two outs. Emma Gipson sent a high flyball to left field, but the Triton's field made a highlight-reel catch against the fence to keep PBA scoreless.

Defensive miscues cost the 'Fish again in the top of the seventh. A muffled ball and dropped catch allowed a third run to score and give EC a lead 3-0. PBA did not go down without a fight in the bottom of the inning. Evoni Rodriguez and Sammy Perez started the rally with a pair of pinch-hit walks. Rodriguez scored on a sacrifice fly by Budnovich. With a runner on first and two outs, the tying run came to the plate in the form of Gipson. The Tritons escaped the inning by forcing a pop out to second base and winning 3-1.

The Sailfish plays two more games against the Tritons in a doubleheader on Saturday. The first pitch at Simpson Field is at 12 p.m.