SALISBURY, N.C. – Palm Beach Atlantic dropped the finale of their weekend series with Catawba on Saturday, falling to the No. 18 ranked Indians by a 6-5 final score. The Sailfish drop to 3-4 on the season with the loss, as they finish the season series with Catawba winning three out of four games.
The Sailfish opened up the scoring in Saturday's noon start on a foggy day, as Jake Summey doubled in the third inning to plate Sean Houck, who reached on a two-out double of his own. The Indians quickly answered however, as they scored two runs on a double in the bottom half of the third off Sailfish starter Orsen Josephina.
Neither team scored in the fourth inning, but Catawba busted the game open in the fifth inning, with five runs, aided by two long balls. Josephina was chased from the game in the fifth inning, and the duo of Blake Beyel and Mitchell Carroll were able to keep the Indians off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game, while combining for 5 strikeouts and just one walk.
The 'Fish gave their best attempt at a comeback, as they got one run back in the sixth, as Riley Herold lifted a fly ball to the left-field wall for a sacrifice fly, scoring Summey. The 'Fish got one run closer in the seventh, as Houck singled home Mike Santaromita, who doubled earlier in the inning.
PBA drew within two runs in the eighth, as Connor Rowland doubled off the center field wall to plate Herold. The 'Fish also scored a run in the ninth inning to pull within one run, but Eddie Vicinanza was retired on a groundout to end the game and the Sailfish chances at completing their comeback.
Houck had the best offensive performance of his young career, as the freshman went 3-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI. Santaromita and Rowland joined with multi-hit days of their own.
The Sailfish will return to Palm Beach County, and will face off with Lynn University on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. The first of four meetings between the Sailfish and Fighting Knights is set to begin at 6 p.m.
