WINTER PARK, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic baseball team returned to action today by playing a doubleheader against the Rollins Tars. The Sailfish bats were quieted in game one until a late ninth-inning rally came up short and PBA fell 6-4. In game two, the Sailfish looked like they were in control but they had to hold on late to win 7-5 to split the doubleheader.

Game 1: PBA 4, Rollins 6

The Sailfish handed the ball to their ace Christian Denton for his sixth start of the year. He got through the first inning without trouble but the Tars got on the board in the second inning as they put together a double and a single to score the opening run. The Sailfish had opportunities offensively early as they had two runners reach base in the first three innings but they were unable to capitalize. The 'Fish broke through and tied the game in the fourth as Carlos Lara doubled to left and was brought home on a Landen Morrison groundout. 

The game didn't stay tied long as the Tars in the home half of the inning as a leadoff single and stolen base was brought home on a fielder's choice. The Tars would add two more runs in the fifth as they put together three straight singles in the inning. Denton's day was ended as he went 5.2 innings, scattering eight hits, and surrendering four runs while striking out four. 

Andrew Sieczkowski was the first man out of the pen for the Sailfish as he would finish the sixth and seventh innings. Rollins added two insurance runs in the eighth off the Sailfish hurler as Cameron Meehan homered to left field to plate a leadoff double. Down 6-1 the Sailfish tried to rally in the top of the ninth as Jake Roper hit a three-run homer out to right field, but the rally was too little too late as the Sailfish fell 6-4. 

Denton was hit with the loss as his record falls to 2-3 on the year. Roper finished 3-for-4 at the plate with half of PBA's six hits while the Tars finished with ten hits. 

Game 2: PBA 7, Rollins 5  

Drew Holweger got the start for the 'Fish in the seven-inning game two of the doubleheader against the Tars. He was outstanding early in his start, holding Rollins to just two hits through five innings. The Sailfish bats gave Holweger an early lead in the second inning when Trent Alley hit a two-run homer to center field. Both teams stayed quiet in the third, fourth, and fifth innings as PBA retained their 2-0 lead.

The Sailfish looked like they might have put the game away in the top of the sixth when they tacked on four runs. Dylan Tosto and Sebastian Salado each singled to start the inning, and Carlos Lara put the exclamation mark on the inning with a three-run homer to left field. The Sailfish led 6-0 and with Holweger rolling along the Sailfish looked to be in control, but the Tars were able to make it interesting scoring five runs in the bottom of the inning. Three walks and a single ended the day for Holweger as he left with the bases loaded and was replaced by Justin Lovell. An error and two walks cut the Sailfish lead to 6-4 as Riuari Murphy would enter to close the game. A sacrifice fly cut the Sailfish lead to just one heading into the final inning.

Holweger earned the win for the Sailfish finishing with a pitching line of 5.0 innings, giving up three hits and four runs. The Sailfish added on an important insurance run after the Tars got the bats going as Jake Roper tripled to lead off the seventh and he was able to score on a wild pitch. Murphy allowed one hit in the final inning but he caught a comebacker and doubled off the runner at first to end the game.

The Sailfish outhit the Tars 11-4 in the game as Tosto led the 'Fish going 3-for-4 at the plate. Salado and Brandon Seltzer each added two hits as seven different Sailfish recorded a hit in game two.

After a week without games, the Sailfish came back to play going 1-1 over the weekend. PBA is slated to return to action on April 21 when they play at Nova Southeastern.