WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Palm Beach Atlantic baseball team took down Rollins College by a score of 3-2 on Friday night. The Sailfish (16-25) walked off with a victory in extra innings to take a 1-0 series lead.
With Daniel Foster on the mound to start the game, the Tars let the 'Fish know they came to play, after scoring two runs, and getting three hits in the inning. PBA wasn't phased though, as they responded right away in the bottom of the first. Matthew Faranda got it all started after reaching first due to an error by Rollins second baseman, which led to a double from Nate Housen to get the RBI. The score remained 2-1 in the Tars favor through the whole second inning.
In the bottom of the third, the 'Fish struck again. Housen and Faranda were the two to thank, after Faranda got walked then advanced to second on a wild pitch, followed by a Housen sacrifice fly to obtain his second RBI of the evening. Foster pitched the majority of the top of the fourth, but was replaced by Nolan Smoot with two outs on the board. Foster pitched 3.2 innings and though he gave up six hits and two runs in his time on the mound, he did have three strikeouts and kept Rollins scoreless after their first inning run.
The score was tied at 2-2 apiece since the 'Fish tied the game in the third inning and it came down to the final inning. Smoot pitched the beginning of the top of the ninth, but Coach Bottenfield decided to make a quick pitching change going with Justin Lovell to potentially close the game.
Smoot had an impressive line with only four hits allowed, zero runs scored, and no walks, he also managed to add a strikeout to his stat sheet as well. Lovell went right to work after taking over on the mound, as he allowed no hits or runs for the Tars, and had a strikeout in his two batters faced.
The 'Fish had an opportunity to walk off with a win, but after grounding out on back to back plays, PBA found themselves in a tough position. With no men on base, Matty Warren was up to bat, and unfortunately, he was struckout to send the game to extra innings with the score still being 2-2. Lovell started the extra inning, but was replaced by Isaac Beebe after allowing two quick walks for Rollins with only one out on the board. Lovell allowed no hits or runs in his time as pitcher for PBA and did have two clutch strikeouts.
Beebe put on another clutch performance when he stepped up to the mound, after allowing no hits or runs, and having a strikeout in his short time as pitcher. The 'Fish then had another opportunity to walk off with a win. With Sal Grinstead and Ben Green both on base, Rollins' coach decided to intentionally walk Patrick Rakes who was up to bat to make it bases loaded with two outs on the board. Stanton Leuthner was up next on the plate, and he sent PBA home with a 3-2 victory after a walkoff single to give Green the run.
Housen was the most notable performer with two RBIs and two hits for the Sailfish and Beebe was credited with his first win as pitcher this season to make him 1-5. PBA will play Rollins on Saturday, Apr. 27 at 12 & 3 p.m. in a double-header match.
