WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Palm Beach Atlantic baseball team fell to Florida Southern College by a score of 8-7 on Friday night. The Sailfish (11-19) made a late run in the seventh inning to cut the game to just one after starting down 8-0. PBA got the tying run on base, but came up short in the bottom of the ninth.

Daniel Foster started on the mound for the 'Fish, and in the first inning, PBA found themselves down 4-0. That was after the Mocs loaded the bases after a single and two walks, followed by a double that led to three runs for FSC. Shortly after, an error by PBA gave the Mocs another opportunity to score and by the fourth inning, the 'Fish were down 5-0.

Coach Bottenfield replaced Foster with Justin Lovell in the top of the fourth. Foster gave up five hits and five runs and had four errors during Florida Southern's strong start, but he did manage to get two strikeouts his four innings pitched. 

By the bottom of the seventh inning, the Mocs had extended their lead to 8-0. The Sailfish did finally get some runs on the board. After Matty Warren and Patrick Rakes were walked, Sean Williams followed with a single to right field to advance Rakes to second and send Warren home for their first run of the game. Gracin Cambas singled shortly after to get the bases loaded, and then Matthew Faranda walked the next play to cut the Mocs lead to six. This forced FSC to make a quick pitching change, but it didn't stop the Sailfish by any means. Once the new pitcher hit the mound, Ben Green hit a sacrifice fly to give the PBA another run. With Gambas on third, Sal Grinstead hit a single to left field to get the RBI, and the lead was only four in favor of Florida Southern. Nate Housen walked the next play and a wild pitch from the Mocs allowed Faranda to get to home plate. The game got even more interesting as Warren came back up to the batter's box and hit a clutch double to give the 'Fish two more runs and make it an 8-7 game after starting the inning down 8-0.

In the top of the eighth, Lovell was replaced by Nolan Smoot to begin the inning. Lovell had two strikeouts in the 18 bats faced but did give up three hits, runs, and walks as the pitcher for the 'Fish. PBA didn't allow any scores in the inning but couldn't manage to tack on any of their own.

In the final inning, Smoot put on a clinic, striking out the side and putting the Sailfish in position to complete the comeback. Grinstead starting the frame with a leadoff single, but Florida Southern struck out Housen, and then Stanton Leuthner flew out to give them a quick two outs with only one man on first. Warren had one more opportunity to give PBA a chance to win but got struck out, and Florida Southern escaped with an 8-7 victory.

Warren had a notable performance with two RBIs, a hit, and a run. Faranda, Green, Grinstead, and Williams all had an RBI as well. Grinstead led the team in hits with three. Smoot had an incredible performance in relief in only two innings, allowing no hits with three strikeouts.

The Sailfish are back in action Saturday for a double header with the Mocs to complete the series. They will play at 12 and 3 p.m.