WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Palm Beach Atlantic baseball dropped to 1-1 on the season with a 6-4 loss on Saturday evening to Tusculum College. The Sailfish were in control on the game late, but a five-run eighth inning for the Pioneers led them to their first victory of the young season.
The Sailfish received another strong start on Saturday from a starting pitcher, as senior Sean Horner struck out 11 batters over five innings of work. The Sunrise, Fla. native allowed just three hits and one unearned run, which came in the second inning.
The Sailfish knotted the game at one run each in the fourth inning, as Danny Tufariello laid down a bunt, which was thrown away by the Pioneer pitcher, allowing Evan Dougherty to come around and score.
The 'Fish grabbed a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning as Sailfish leadoff hitter Jake Summey singled and later came around to score on a wild pitch.
Sean Houck led off the seventh inning with a single, and was driven in by Dougherty, who drilled a double through the wind to the left-center field wall.
Orsen Josephine relieved Horner on the night, and appeared to be in control as he tossed scoreless sixth and seventh innings while recording three strikeouts. Josephina (Loss, 0-1) lost a bit of command in the eighth however, as two walks ended up coming around to score for Tusculum, and Joey Hennessey entered the game to try and stop the bleeding. Hennessey gave up a couple of weak hits himself, and a Sailfish error led to another Tusculum run as they took a 6-3 lead into the bottom of the eighth.
The 'Fish were able to get one run back in the eighth, as Eddie Vicinanza led off with a single, and later came around to score on a Tusculum error.
After a Hennessey scoreless ninth, the Sailfish threatened in the bottom half, as Dougherty singled to right field, and pinch hitter Ryan Johnson reached on a walk. That was all the 'Fish could muster in the ninth however, as Marcos Perez flew out to right field and the 'Fish fell 6-4.
Summey and Dougherty were the lone Sailfish with multiple hits on the night, as Summey finished 2-for-5 with a run scored and Dougherty ended his night 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
The 'Fish will return to J.M. "Jake" Rubin Park tomorrow for a 1 p.m. start against No. 1 ranked Delta State University.
