MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic baseball team traveled to face Florida Tech on Friday night for the first of five games the 'Fish will play against the Panthers in the next five days.
The Sailfish held a lead into the eighth inning, but a three-run inning for FT (13-10, 12-9 SSC) gave the hosts a 5-3 lead. The 'Fish brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth, but were unable to do damage, dropping the game 5-3.
Ramon Machado and
Robert Fabelo led PBA (10-13, 8-13 SSC) with a pair of hits each.
Landen Morrison went 1-for-3 with two walks. Machado was the only 'Fish to record an RBI.
Florida Tech struck first in the contest thanks to a PBA error in the bottom of the third with two outs which allowed the first run of the game to score. The 'Fish got on the board in the top of the fourth. Two walks and two stolen bases preceded an error by the FT shortstop which allowed
Sebastian Salado to score. Another Sailfish walk loaded the bases which allowed a run to score after Machado was hit by a pitch, giving PBA a 2-1 lead.
The Panthers evened the score in the fifth inning with some small ball. A leadoff walk and stolen base followed by a sacrifice bunt led to an RBI single to make it a 2-2 ballgame.
Drew Holweger kept the Sailfish in the game with a quality start on the mound. He tossed seven innings, surrendering just two earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
PBA got Holweger a lead in the top of the eighth.
Sean Houck did his job to get on base via a walk. He advanced to second on a passed ball and moved to third on a flyball from Morrison. A wild pitch allowed Houck to make his was home to give the 'Fish a 3-2 lead. Holweger pitched into the eighth, but he was pulled after a leadoff walk. Two more walks loaded the bases for FT with two outs. The Panthers tied the game with another walk and a two-RBI single gave them a 5-3 lead.
Singles by
Jake Roper and
Dylan Tosto brough the go-ahead run to the plate, but Florida Tech held on for the 5-3 win.
The Sailfish outhit the Panthers in the game 10-7.
Ryan Webster got the loss, getting charged with one earned run with one walk and one strikeout.
PBA will look to avenge tonight's loss when it faces the Panthers again, this time in a home doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1 p.m.
