ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Palm Beach Atlantic baseball lost a close game against Eckerd College on Friday night to open up Sunshine State Conference play. The Sailfish (5-6) could not handle the Tritons (5-7) falling by a final score of 3-2. 

Christian Denton (2-1) had a quality start but got the tough luck loss pitching six innings and allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out nine. Brad VanAsdlen pitched 1.2 innings in relief allowing no runs and no hits while striking out two.

Down 1-0 in the sixth, Ramon Machado led off the inning with a double to left field. Derek Schwimer grounded out to second moving Machado to third. Sean Houck then brought home Machado on a ground ball to shortstop tying the game at 1-1. 

The Tritons answered back quickly scoring one run in the bottom of the sixth and again in the seventh to put their lead at 3-1. 

PBA shrunk the lead to one in the eighth on a Brandon Seltzer double to right center. The double in the gap allowed Houck to score after singling earlier in the inning and moving to second on a wild pitch. 

The Sailfish ninth inning comeback attempt was stopped just short with the tying run was left on second making the final score 3-2 in favor of the Tritons. 

Seltzer notched his team high 11th RBI of the season and also had two hits in the contest. Brandon Smith had a season high three hits to led PBA. Schwimer, Houck, and Robert Fabelo each collected one hit as well.

The Sailfish return to action Saturday, Feb. 29 as they continue the weekend series against the Tritons taking them on in a double header starting at noon in St. Petersburg.