WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic baseball team returned home to wrap up a series with the Tampa Spartans this afternoon by playing a doubleheader at J.M. Jake Rubin Park. After falling in game one of the series in Tampa, the Sailfish dropped both legs of the set today against the number three ranked Spartans.

Game 1: PBA 4, Tampa 18

The trend of Sailfish starters struggling in their first inning of work continued as the Spartans greeted PBA Joey Hennessey with five runs in the first inning. Tampa but together five hits in the opening frame and capitalized on two free passes and an error. The Sailfish offense was able to hit back against Spartans starter Braydon Nelson as Landen Morrison was able to take advantage of being hit by a pitch by scoring on a Brandon Seltzer sacrifice fly as the Sailfish offense scratched a run across in the bottom of the first. Unfortunately, the Spartans were able to score two more runs in the second and third innings to push their lead to 9-1 after three. Hennessey's day ended after three-plus innings pitched, surrendering nine runs, seven earned while striking out two.  

The Sailfish threatened in the home half of the fourth as Sean Houck and Dylan Tosto each singled and Jake Roper drew a walk, but the offense was able to score just one run on the bases-loaded situation as a Carlos Lara sac fly scored Houck. The game got out of hand in the top of the fifth when Tampa scored eight runs. The Sailfish bullpen struggled to find the zone as they surrendered seven free passes in the inning. Jamil Vanheyningen was unable to get out of his second innings of work as he walked seven and gave up six runs. Five PBA pitchers came out of the bullpen to close out the game, including David Chenoweth and Ryan Webster who each pitched a clean inning in relief.

The Sailfish offense added one run in the fifth, Seltzer scoring after his double on a Trent Alley single, and one run in the seventh, Lara scoring after his leadoff double on a Franklin Mundo Jr. single, but the game was in hand for the Spartans. The Spartans scored 18 runs on 16 hits and committed one error as their starter Nelson earned the win after four innings pitched. The Sailfish scored 4 runs on 11 hits and committed two errors while walking 15 batters.

Game 2: PBA 2, Tampa 11

The Sailfish handed the ball to Troy Klemm in game two of the doubleheader and he was overpowering at times throughout his outing. He struck out three batters in the first inning, but he also surrendered two runs on three hits. The Sailfish this time were able to equalize in the bottom of the inning as Landen Morrison led off with a double and was brought home on a Robert Fabelo single. Aggressive PBA base running by Seltzer caused a throwing error as he stole third base which allowed him to score and tie the game. 

The Spartans hit back with three runs in the top of the next inning to recapture the lead. Two of the runs were unearned off a Klemm error but the Sailfish offense went quiet after their initial threats as they didn't record a hit after the first inning. Spartans pitcher Eric Linder had shaky command the first two innings as he walked four in the first two innings, but he settled in as he retired his last 13 batters faced as he went six innings and picked up the win. His counterpart Klemm was able to go 4.1 innings while giving up seven runs, five earned, and striking out seven. 

Three Sailfish relief pitchers of Christian Horner, Brad VanAsdlen, and Ruiari Murphy each gave up a run in their bullpen outings as the Sailfish fell 11-2. The Spartans finished with 11 runs on 11 hits and committed one error, while the Sailfish scored two runs on two hits and committed three errors.

It was a tough draw for the Sailfish to open their season against the teams picked to finish in first and second in the conference. They will hope for better results when they return to play against Saint Leo for a single game at home on March 18 and a doubleheader on the road on March 20.