ALBANY, Ga. - Palm Beach Atlantic baseball won the first game of the doubleheader before dropping the second game in extra innings against Albany State University on Saturday afternoon. The Sailfish (5-5) out-slugged the Golden Rams (6-7) to take the first game 11-7 but the Golden Rams were able to outlast the 'Fish in game two as they won 4-3 in extra innings.
Game 1: Palm Beach Atlantic 11, Albany State 7
The Sailfish were down early as the Golden Rams jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first. The 'fish were able to answer back scoring in seven of the remaining eight innings of the ballgame.
The first run for the 'Fish came in the second as Carlos Lara singled allowing Brandon Smith to score. In the third it was Sean Houck who singled which plated Dylan Tosto, who got the start behind the dish. Tosto would later single in the fourth to score Ramon Machado.
The fifth inning was the biggest inning for the Sailfish offense when they put up four runs on four hits. Houck started the inning out with a walk before Brandon Seltzer doubled to bring him in. Smith would follow with a single which brought Seltzer around to score. After Andreas Papageorge singled to put runners on first and second, Machado doubled which brought them both home to tie the game 7-7.
PBA took the lead in the sixth on RBI singles from Papageorge and Lara. The 'Fish scored insurance runs in the top of the eighth and the ninth. The Sailfish held the Golden Rams and were able to win the game 11-7.
Papageorge finished the game with three hits and one RBI while Lara had two hits and three RBIs for the 'Fish. Seltzer, Smith, and Machado all record two hits as well.
Game 2: Albany State 4, Palm Beach Atlantic 3
The Sailfish offense got on the board in the top of the first when Seltzer doubled to score Derek Schwimer who reached earlier in the inning on an error.
The 'Fish would not score again until the fifth inning when they scored two runs to take a 3-2 lead. PBA was able to score on a Schwimer single that brought home Lara. Seltzer then collected his second RBI of the game with a single of his own to score Machado.
Unfortunately, the Sailfish could not hold on to the lead as the Golden Rams tied the game in the bottom of the fifth and won the game in the bottom of the tenth on a walk-off single giving them the 4-3 victory over PBA.
Joey Hennessey started on the hill for the Sailfish. Hennessey pitched 8.0 innings giving up only six hits and one earned run while striking out six Golden Rams. Despite his impressive outing, Hennessey would not get a decision in the game.
Seltzer led the way for the Sailfish offense collecting three hits and two RBIs. Machado finished the game with two hits while Schwimer, Sebastian Salado, and Lara each got one hit in the contest.
The Sailfish will return to action on Friday, Feb. 28 as they open up Sunshine State Conference play taking on Eckerd in St. Petersburg, Fla. with first pitch slated for 6 p.m.
