SAINT LEO, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic baseball team closed out a series against the Saint Leo Lions this afternoon by playing a doubleheader on the road. After dropping game one of the series on Thursday night at home late against the Lions, the Sailfish bounced back by taking game one of the doubleheader 13-6 and game two 8-4 to win the series over Saint Leo.

Game 1: PBA 13, SLU 6

The Sailfish offense exploded in game one on Saturday afternoon as the 'Fish earned their first win of the season. The bats got going early as PBA scored three runs in the opening frame. Ramon Machado doubled to score Landen Morrison who led the game off with a walk and the three-hole hitter Jake Roper took Saint Leo starter Jestin Jones deep the other way and out to right field. 

Sailfish starting pitcher Troy Klemm had a short leash as he lasted just 0.2 innings after surrendering three hits and three earned runs. Brad VanAsdlen was the first man out of the pen as he struck out the first batter he faced to escape further damage in the first inning. The Sailfish added a run in the third inning on a Robert Fabelo single that scored Ramon Machado to retake the lead, 4-3, but after an easy second inning of work, VanAsdlen gave up back-to-back solo homeruns in the bottom of the third as the Lions reclaimed the lead 5-4. 

The Sailfish tied the game in the fourth before exploding offensively in the fifth for seven runs to take control of the game for good. Rabelo homered to score Brandon Seltzer and Roper and as the rally continued, Carlos Lara singled to score Sean Houck. A Landen Morrison three-run homer closed out the inning as the Sailfish took a 12-5 lead after five innings. With the lead, Christian Horner held down the Lions offense as he pitched 4.0 innings as the third Sailfish hurler allowing just one run on one hit as he earned the win. 

Sailfish catcher Robert Fabelo finished the game 5-for-5 at the plate as he drove in four runs. Jake Roper was 4-for-5 as he scored three times and drove in two runs as every member of the PBA lineup recorded a hit, scored a run, and four recorded a multi-hit game. The victory marked career win number 200 for head coach Kent Bottenfield as the head man at PBA. 

Game 2: PBA 8, SLU 4

After taking game one of the day, the Sailfish handed the ball to Matt Leslie to start the seven innings game two. The Lions got to the Sailfish senior in the first innings as they made him pay for two walks in the inning when Jake Vander Wal left the park for a three-run homer. After the long ball though Leslie settled in and gave a Sailfish a quality outing as he cruised through the second, third, and fourth innings. He ended with 4.1 innings pitched allowing the three earned runs on four hits while striking out three Lions batters. The Sailfish bats had their starting pitchers back as they responded quickly to give Leslie the win.

The Sailfish scored two runs in the top of the 2nd as the Sailfish scored on a wild pitch and Landen Morrison plated Dylan Tosto after both singled. The 'Fish tied the game in the third when Brandon Seltzer led off the inning with a solo homer to right field. With the game tied and the game approaching the closing innings, PBA rallied for three runs in the sixth as Jake Roper's double scored Carlos Lara and Tosto. They added one more on a Robert Fabelo sacrifice fly to score Ramon Machado to take a 7-3 lead. 

After Leslie, the Sailfish turned to Ruiari Murphy who finished the final 2.2 innings allowing just one run in the sixth innings on one hit while striking out three batters. The Sailfish added two more insurance runs in the top of the final inning as Carlos Lara's double scored Tosto and then a Machado double knocked in Lara. The Sailfish shut the door in the bottom of the seventh as they claimed the 8-4 win and clinched the series win.

Morrison and Roper each finished with two hits in game two and they combined to drive in three runs. The bottom of the Sailfish order did damage as the eight and nine-hole hitters of Tosto and Lara combined to score five runs as Lara finished 3-for-3 at the dish.

Coming off their first series win, the Sailfish will hope to keep that momentum going when they face Rollins at home for a single game on Wednesday before facing Nova Southeastern for a three-game series at the end of the week.