TAMPA, Fla. – Palm Beach Atlantic baseball's comeback attempt fell a bit short on Friday night, as they fell to the No. 2/4 ranked Tampa Spartans by a 10-8 final at the UT Baseball Field.  The Sailfish hit three home runs on the night but were unable to overcome an early deficit, falling to 20-18 on the year and 9-10 in SSC play.  The Spartans improve to 29-5 on the season and 18-1 in league play.

Tampa scored five two-out runs in the first inning of Friday's series opener, and scored another in the second to take an early 6-0 lead over the Sailfish. 

The Sailfish got on the scoreboard in the third inning as Hakeem Rhodes hit his fourth home run of the year, a solo-shot to left field. 

Sean Houck also scored a run in the third inning on a Tampa error to cut the Tampa lead to 6-2, and the Sailfish inched even closer on a two-run homer in the fourth from Connor Rowland.

Tampa scored a couple runs in the fifth inning to regain their four-run lead, but the 'Fish fought back again, as Rowland hit his second home run of the night, another two-run shot, to make the score 8-6. 

Tampa added a couple late insurance runs to take a 10-6 lead into the ninth, where the Sailfish again showed some fight, scoring a couple of runs with two outs to cut the lead to 10-8, and got the tying run on base before Rowland grounded out to end the game. 

Rowland finished 2-for-4 with the two homers and four RBIs on the night, as Rhodes and Kyle Simon added two hits each for the Sailfish.  Evan Dougherty finished 1-for-3 with a triple and two walks for the 'Fish.

The Sailfish and Spartans will conclude their weekend series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. in Tampa Fla.