MELBOURNE, Fla.- The Palm Beach Atlantic baseball team finished their 2024 regular season with back-to-back wins in a double header against Florida Tech University on Monday. The Sailfish (21-25) ended the season on a six game win streak and swept the Panthers in the series.

GAME ONE: PBA: 4 | FTU: 3

After a couple scoreless innings, the Sailfish were the first to get themselves on the board in the top of the third after Matty Warren singled up the middle to send Sean Williams to the plate to put them up 1-0. In the top of the fourth, the 'Fish struck again, after a home run bomb by Nate Housen to obtain the RBI and put PBA up 2-0. The Panthers responded in the bottom of the fourth, but both teams had another scoreless inning through the fifth.

In the top of the sixth, Patrick Rakes singled to advance Housen to third and send Ben Green to home plate to put the Sailfish back up two at 3-1. Florida Tech did not back down without a fight, as they held the 'Fish scoreless through the seventh and eighth innings and tied up the game at three apiece. 

Both teams tried to get some runs on the board but the games inevitably went to extra innings. After no scores once again in the 10th inning, the 'Fish looked to conclude the game in the 11th. That they did, after Jake McNamara singled to right field to send Rakes home for the game winning run with a final score of 4-3 through 11 innings.

The starting pitcher for tonight was Ryan Webster, he pitched the first 6.1 innings and allowed seven hits, two runs, and only one strikeout in his 27 batters faced. He was replaced by A.J. Prendergast, who spent a very short time at the mound, after Bottenfield sent Isaac Beebe to take over for him. Prendergast gave up two hits and a run in his time as pitcher. Beebe got the win for the game, making him 2-5 on the season, after allowing no runs and having three strikeouts in 12 batters faced. The final pitcher of the evening, who was credited with his second save of the season, Justin Lovell, who allowed only a hit and zero runs to give the 'Fish momentum going into the 11th.

GAME TWO: PBA: 5 | FTU: 3

In game two, the Sailfish started out dominant, as they got up to a game-high 5-0 through the first six innings. Ben Green got things started in the top of the third with a double to left center to send Matthew Faranda home. Two innings later, in the top of the fifth, Nate Housen singled on a bunt to send Faranda home for the second time of the game.

The top of the sixth is where the 'Fish really found their rhythm, after scoring three runs straight. Giancarlo Chantres was the first to get PBA rolling after a single that sent Trey Miranda in for his first run of the game. Shortly after, Ben Green singled which then sent Chantres to the plate to make it 4-0 in PBAs favor. The 'Fish got one more on the board before the inning concluded after Sal Grinstead grounded out to second to send Matty Warren home and give the Sailfish a 5-0 lead. The Panthers responded with three runs of their own through the next two innings, but PBA ultimately prevailed with the two run victory to end their 2024 season on a spectacular note. 

Coach Bottenfield only went with two pitchers for this game, the starter was Derek Langfelder, who was also credited with the win, making him 4-2 to finish the season. Although Langfelder gave up 12 hits and three runs in 7.2 innings pitched, he did have three strikeouts. Justin Lovell was the replacement pitcher and finished the rest of the game, and he had an incredible showing, allowing no hits, no runs, and having three strikeouts in four batters faced. Lovell also added another save to his line to conclude the season.

PBA finishes their season with a record of 21-25 and they have now made history as they have the most conference wins as a Sailfish baseball team with 17.