PENSACOLA, Fla. – Palm Beach Atlantic baseball won an exciting game on Saturday night, defeating the University of West Florida Argonauts by an 8-7 final score in 10 innings. The 'Fish have now won three games in a row, and five of their last six to improve to 6-4 on the season.
The Sailfish began the scoring on the night in the first inning, as Kyle Simon laced a single up the middle to plate Jake Summey who reached via error.
The Argos quickly answered off Sailfish starter Sean Horner, as a two-out Sailfish error in the second inning allowed UWF to tie the game.
The 'Fish grabbed the lead back in the fifth inning, as Sean Houck started a two-out rally with a hit-by-pitch. Marcos Perez followed with a single, and Summey drove in Houck with a single to right field. Eddie Vicinanza then connected with a two-run single to right, giving the 'Fish a 4-1 lead.
Horner struggled in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he had to be lifted after 4+ innings, allowing four runs (three earned) and walking three batters while striking out four Argonauts on the night. The Argos scored three runs in the fifth to tie the game at four runs each.
Christian Denton entered in relief of Horner, and after allowing a couple of inherited runners to score, settled down to turn in a nice outing, throwing 2.2 scoreless innings while striking out four batters.
The Argos took the lead in the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded. PBA came to bat in the ninth inning down a run, and Perez led off the frame with a walk. Perez reached third base as Vicinanza reached on an error by the Argo first-baseman. Simon stepped to the plate and laced a single through the left side to tie the game at five.
David Paul (Win, 1-0) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth, and the 'Fish did some damage at the plate in the 10th. Summey drilled a two-out, two-run triple to left field, and was followed by Vicinanza, who doubled to left-center, scoring Summey and giving the 'Fish an 8-5 lead.
Johnnie Schneider entered in the bottom of the 10th, and picked up his second save this week, but not without suspense. West Florida hit a two-out two-run homer to cut the lead to 8-7, before a strike out ended the game and sealed the win for the 'Fish.
The Sailfish will have a quick turnaround, as they will head back to Jim Spooner Field tomorrow morning for a noon EST start against the No. 2/5 ranked University of Tampa Spartans to close out the Argo Invitational.
