WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Palm Beach Atlantic baseball dropped a doubleheader on Friday afternoon, falling by scores of 7-4 and 7-5 to No. 18 Saint Leo University. The Sailfish have lost nine consecutive games, and fall to 18-14 on the season. Saint Leo improves to 26-5 on the year and 9-3 in the SSC. The Sailfish will return to action on Tuesday, April 3 at 6 p.m. in Miami Shores, Fla.
Game One: No. 18 Saint Leo 7, Palm Beach Atlantic 4
The Sailfish got off to a good start in the first game of the day, as Jake Summey doubled to left field, and came around to score on a Kyle Simon double to right field. The Lions answered with a run of their own in the second inning off Sailfish starter Lance Fry to tie the game at one.
The Sailfish gained the lead back in the fourth inning, as Summey cracked his second homer of the season to left field, opening up a 3-1 lead. The 'Fish grabbed another run in the inning as Danny Tufariello singled home Simon.
The Lions fought back with a run in the sixth, and got three runs in the seventh to take a 5-4 lead over the Sailfish. Fry threw 5.1 innings on the day, allowing five hits on two runs while striking out seven hitters and not walking anyone.
The Lions extended their lead with runs in the eighth and the ninth, as they led 7-4 entering the bottom of the ninth.
The Sailfish got two runners on to bring up the tying run, but were unable to scratch runs across and lost by the three-run margin.
Summey finished 4-for-5 in the game with two RBIs and two runs scored. Simon, Tufariello, and Eddie Vicinanza finished with two hits each in the game for the 'Fish.
Game Two: No. 18 Saint Leo 7, Palm Beach Atlantic 5
The Lions struck first in the final game of the series, as Chase Turner hit a two-run homer in the first inning of starting pitcher Mitchell Carroll. The score remained 2-0 until the fourth inning, where Evan Dougherty grounded out to third base, scoring Tufariello and bringing the 'Fish within a run.
Carroll completed his outing in the fifth inning, as he settled down nicely, throwing 4.1 innings of two-run baseball and allowing just four hits.
The Lions opened up a 4-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning on a two-run homer from Brett Coffel.
The Sailfish answered back in a big way in the bottom of the inning, as Summey, Ryan Johnson, Simon, and Tufariello all picked up hits, and after a Dougherty sacrifice fly, the Sailfish found themselves tied at four. Later in the inning, Vicinanza singled through the right side, scoring Simon to give the 'Fish a lead.
The Sailfish bullpen was unable to hold the lead however, as the 'Fish allowed a run in the seventh and two in the eighth to fall by the 7-5 score.
Simon finished 3-for-4 in the series finale, while Johnson and Tufariello each went 2-for-4.
