SALISBURY, N.C. – Palm Beach Atlantic baseball won both ends of a doubleheader today, defeating No. 18 Catawba for the second and third time this season. PBA and Catawba will complete their weekend series tomorrow.
Game 1: Palm Beach Atlantic 9, #18 Catawba, 7
The first game of the three-game set was an exciting one, as both teams used the long ball to their advantage. The Sailfish threw the final blow however, as junior Riley Herold blasted a three-run homer in the top of the ninth to put the 'Fish on top for good.
Senior Sean Horner took the bump for the 'Fish, and had a lot of good and bad moments in his second start of the season. Horner struck out 10 batters on the day, his second start of the season with double-digit punch outs. He also walked five Catawba batters, and allowed three timely extra-base hits as he was forced to exit in the fifth inning after allowing five runs (four earned).
Horner exited with the 'Fish down 5-2, but it didn't take long for PBA to get him off the hook, as they scored three runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game. Connor Rowland and Herold singled to begin the sixth, and Bobby Brennan pinch-hit and laced a double off the right-field wall. Brennan later scored on a Sean Houck sacrifice fly to tie the game at five.
The Indians quickly regained the lead, as All-American Luke Setzer hit his first homer of the season in the sixth. Kyle Simon answered just a quick however, with a towering home run to lead off the seventh for the 'Fish.
Catawba grabbed a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the seventh, as Sailfish pitching walked four consecutive batters with two outs.
The 'Fish came to bat in the ninth needing a run, and Simon walked to represent the tying run, and was followed by Evan Dougherty who singled to get the go-ahead run on base. With two outs and two strikes, Herold drove a ball over the right-field wall to put the Sailfish ahead 9-7.
Tyler Hawks recorded the final three outs of the game to record his first career save. Hawks struck out two batters in his scoreless inning.
Game 2: Palm Beach Atlantic 12, #18 Catawba 3
PBA got off to a great start in the second game of Friday's twin-bill, as it took just three batters for Simon to crank his second homer of the day to put the 'Fish up 2-0. Just a couple batters later, Herold joined in on the action, blasting a two-run homer to right field and putting the 'Fish up 4-0.
Johnnie Schneider turned in a solid start for the Sailfish in game two, as the junior threw five innings of three-hit ball, striking out seven batters while walking three. Schneider needed 90 pitches and allowed just one run.
The 'Fish added a run in the fifth as Hakeem Rhodes joined in on the home-run fun, sending his first of the season over the left-field fence. The Sailfish really busted the game open later in the fifth, as Simon just missed his third homer of the day, but doubled in three runs as he sent one off the center-field wall.
Christian Denton, Troy Klemm, and Eli Bottenfield closed out the game for the 'Fish, with Denton turning in a nice performance with five strikeouts in his two innings of work.
Rhodes finished 3-for-4 at the dish, as the senior drove in three runs and scored two more. Herold had another solid game, as he walked twice in addition to his homerun. Sean Houck turned in a two-hit performance, and was joined by Eddie Vicinanza, Simon, and Ryan Johnson with multiple-hit games.
