WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Palm Beach Atlantic baseball defeated Bentley College on Friday evening in a game that was called after six and a half innings due to rain.  The Sailfish and Falcons were fortunate to get the season opener in as heavy rains poured down in West Palm Beach all day.  The Sailfish win their season opener for the second consecutive season.

The Falcons got off to a good start to the 2019 season, as leadoff hitter Max Troiani led off the game by clubbing a home run over the left-field fence off Sailfish starter Mitchell Carroll. 

The 'Fish answered in a big way in the bottom of the first inning, as they took advantage of a couple Falcon walks and an error and Andreas Papageorge hit an RBI single through the left side as the 'Fish scored four runs to take a 4-1 lead. 

The 'Fish added a run in the bottom of the third inning as Connor Rowland led off the inning with a single and later scored on an RBI single by Derek Schwimer.

Carroll (Win, 1-0) settled down nicely after giving up the leadoff homer, as he allowed just one more hit through five innings, and finished his start with six strikeouts, and just allowed the first-inning run.

Orsen Josephina allowed one run in the sixth inning out of the Sailfish bullpen, but settled down to retire the last two batters he faced in the sixth. Josephina then retired the Falcons in order in the seventh inning and picked up two strikeouts in the frame.

The rain returned to J.M. "Jake" Rubin Park after the top of the seventh inning and forced the remainder of the game to be canceled with the Sailfish picking up the win.

Papageorge and Rowland picked up two hits each for the Sailfish on the night, as Schwimer and Sailfish catcher Marcos Perez picked up the remaining two hits for the 'Fish.  Brandon Smith reached base three times in his Sailfish debut as he was hit by two pitches and walked in the fourth. 

The Sailfish will be back in action tomorrow, Saturday Feb. 2 as they will host Tusculum University at 4 p.m.