WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic baseball team hosted Wingate at J.M. "Jake" Rubin Park on Saturday night.
The Sailfish faced a five-run deficit in the ninth, but the bats started to come alive late. A two-run double brought the tying run to the plate in the final frame, but the Sailfish comeback came up short. The Bulldogs held on to win, 5-2.
Dane Hall made his first start as a Sailfish. He had to work hard to escape two scoreless innings to start the game, but Wingate broke through in the third. Back-to-back singles started the inning with runners on first and third. A comebacker to the mound allowed Hall to get the runner breaking for home first the first out of the inning. Hall struck out the next batter for the second out, giving himself to get out of another jam. Unfortunately for the 'Fish, A two-out single drove in the first run of the game for the visitors.
One hit, a stolen base, and a pair of errors allowed the Bulldogs to add to their lead. PBA tried to answer in the bottom of the fifth, getting a runner to third, but failed to bring him home.
The Sailfish started getting to the Wingate starter the third time through the order. Back-to-back singles from
Ben Green and
Matthew Faranda knocked the pitcher out of the game in the sixth.
Kody Kelly walked to load the bases with one out. A 643 double play killed the Sailfish rally and ended the inning.
Wingate added three runs to its lead in the seventh. Three hits and an error allowed the Bulldogs to take a 5-0 lead. AJ Prendergast entered midway through the frame to pitch and limited the damage with two straights to end the inning.
Aaron Vetter walked and stole second to give PBA a runner in scoring position with one away. A strikeout and a walk made it first and second with two outs. A groundout to the shortstop ended the inning and hung another zero for Wingate.
Patrick Rakes reached on an error in the ninth to start a Sailfish rally. A hit batter and a walk loaded the bases with two outs.
Trey Miranda doubled to right center to make it 5-2 and bring the tying run to the plate. A strikeout clinched the win for Wingate and ended PBA's comeback hopes.
Vetter recorded two of PBA's five hits. Hall tossed six innings, giving up one earned run on six hits with eight strikeouts and three walks.
Elijah Budiac pitched 0.1 innings of relief, giving up two earned runs on three hits. Prendergast tossed 2.2 scoreless innings with two strikeouts to end the game.
PBA takes on Mount Olive in a Sunday matinee. The first pitch at J.M. "Jake" Rubin Park is set for 1 p.m.
