WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic baseball team finished their first SSC series this afternoon in a double header against #13 Lynn University. The Sailfish won both games, one of which on an extra innings walk off single from
Matthew Faranda.
Drew Holweger got the start to begin the double header matchup. He would finish the day with three innings pitched, six hits, four earned runs, two walks and one strikeout. PBA jumped out to an early lead in the first inning.
Jake Roper continued to work back into form as he started the game with an RBI single.
Jiovel Lantigua was able to drive a run home later on, and the three-run inning for the 'Fish was capped off by an RBI single from
Nate Housen. Roper's solid series was continued in the third with an RBI double down the left field line that brought
Sebastian Salado around to score.
The 4-0 lead by the Sailfish wasn't there for long, as the Fighting Knights responded in the fourth inning with a grand slam. Lynn would eventually take the lead in the fifth, making the score 5-4. PBA would weather the storm in the bottom of that inning. Lantigua would get an RBI single, followed up by a two RBI single to right field from
Sean Houck.
Chris Seymour would pick up the win in the relief effort for the 'Fish, alongside a completed save for
Ruairi Murphy.
Mike Entenza got the ball for the 'Fish to start the second game. He would go three innings pitched, six hits, 4 earned runs, three walks and one strikeout. It was back and forth throughout, with both teams making runs over the course of the game. The Sailfish scored three runs early in the first inning on an RBI single from Salado and a sacrifice bunt from Housen. Lynn would come out hot as well, putting up 4 runs in the first three innings.
PBA came back in the fourth with a big run. Some Lynn errors set up a two RBI single from
Jeff Manto, followed up by an RBI single from Faranda and a sacrifice fly ball from Salado. The Fighting Knights would not go down without a fight, stretching the game into extra innings.
Troy Klemm pitched well in the clutch, giving the Sailfish a chance to finish the game in the 10
th inning. Houck doubled down the left field line. Later on,
Blake Ebo reached first on a bunt and was able to make it to second. It all came down to the Freshman
Matthew Faranda, who came up clutch with a single up the middle to bring Houck in as the game winning run.
PBA will play again on the road against Barry on Feb. 22.