MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—The Barry Buccaneers got their Sunshine State Conference softball series off on the right foot with a 5-1 win over the Nova Southeastern Sharks on Tuesday at Buccaneer Field.

The Bucs (25-9, 9-4 SSC) took over sole possession of the first place in the SSC with the win, moving percentage points in front of Rollins and Tampa, both tied at 12-6.

Barry scored three runs in the first inning. Megan Copeland led off with a single on the left side. Alayna Gallagher reached with Sharks second baseman Dakota Villella dropped the throw as she attempted to sacrifice Copeland to second. After a successful sacrifice by Dee Espinosa, Julie Brtio laid down a squeeze bunt to score Copeland. As Brito attempted to take second on the throw, the Sharks made a play for her at second, but were unsuccessful and Gallagher raced home as well. Ashley Fernandez cashed in Brito with a single to right.

Fernandez drove in Brito again in the third inning. Brito drove in the last run in the fourth inning when she scored Hunter Mars from third on a single past Maegan Lee at third.

Haley Wiseman (12-5) made the runs stand up, holding the Sharks (14-18, 2-11 SSC) to just four hits and four walks. She allowed one run, on an RBI double by Katrina Ammons in the sixth and struck out three. Rebecca Thornton (11-8) took the loss for the Sharks. She allowed five runs (three earned) on 10 hits and a walk and struck out one in the six-inning complete game.

Fernandez led the Bucs at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two RBI. Brito was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI. Ammons, Lee and Lorena Spaulding each had one hit for the Sharks.

The series concludes on Wednesday, Apr. 8 at 5:00 pm with a doubleheader.