WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Palm Beach Atlantic baseball saw themselves down early to Chestnut Hill College on Friday night, but mounted a comeback and won on a walk-off single by Brandon Smith. The Sailfish improve to 8-11 with the exciting victory.
The Griffins got off to a good start on Friday as they plated two runs in the first inning off Sailfish starter Mitchell Carroll. The 'Fish had an answer in the bottom half as Connor Rowland lined a single to left field which plated Riley Herold and Sean Houck to tie the game up.
CHC added on in the third and fourth innings as they chased Carroll from the game after four and led 6-1.
Brandon Seltzer continued to impress at the plate as he homered for the second game in a row in the fourth inning to cut into the deficit.
The Sailfish had two outs and nobody on in the fifth as Herold was hit by a pitch and Seltzer doubled before Rowland drove in two more runs with a double of his own to bring the Sailfish within one run.
Rowland came through again in the seventh inning, as he picked up his fourth hit of the game, an RBI double to left to score Houck and tie the game at six.
The Sailfish turned a big double play in the top of the ninth to end a Griffin threat and loaded the bases in the bottom half before Brandon Smith hit a ground-rule double to end the game and the comeback win for the Sailfish.
Orsen Josephina faced just nine hitters in three innings of work for the 'Fish to earn the win on the night.
Rowland and Danny Tufariello each went 4-for-4 in the game, as Rowland drove in five runs. Herold went 1-for-2 but was hit by three pitches and scored three runs in the game. Houck and Seltzer added two hits each for the 'Fish.
PBA will be back in action against CHC tomorrow, March 9 in a doubleheader beginning at noon.
