WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Palm Beach Atlantic baseball fell in a pitching duel on Monday morning, as the Catawba Indians defeated the Sailfish by a 3-1 final score.  Catawba scored three runs in the top of the first inning and held on to win by the 3-1 final.  PBA drops to 2-2 on the season while the Indians improve to 3-1.

The Indians pushed three runs across in the top of the first inning off Sailfish starting pitcher Lance Fry (Loss, 0-1).  Hunter Shepherd had the big blast in the inning for Catawba with a two-run homer to right center.  Fry settled down to throw scoreless second and third innings in his first outing of the season.  The Sailfish got one run back in the bottom of the third, as Derek Schwimer doubled and came around to score on a two-out single by Brandon Seltzer.

The Sailfish got strong relief outings from Heath Hawkins, Orsen Josephina, and Joey Hennessey, who kept the Indians off the scoreboard for the final six innings of the game.  Hawkins threw four scoreless innings before Josephina and Hennessey closed out the game on the hill.

Riley Myers dominated the game on the hill for the Indians, as he went eight strong innings, striking out nine hitters and allowing just the one run on five hits. 

Brandon Smith singled for the 'Fish to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning but Peyton Williams retired the next three Sailfish hitters to earn the save on the day.

Smith was the only Sailfish hitter with multiple hits in the game as Schwimer and Tufariello picked up the two Sailfish extra-base hits in the game.

PBA will return to action on Friday, Feb. 8 at 4 p.m. as they will take on North Georgia in Dahlonega, Ga.