WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Palm Beach Atlantic dropped the series against the #1 team in the country, the University of Tampa Spartans, in two close games. The Sailfish fell 8-7 in game two of the series and it took the Spartans 12 innings to put PBA away in the third game by a score of 15-13.
The Sailfish will look to carry some confidence after pushing the Spartans to the limit into their midweek matchup on Tuesday when they host Lynn at 6:00 p.m. in a non-conference meeting.
Game One
Dane Hall got the start once again in his normal second game of the series start for the Sailfish. Hall got through four full innings of work but five HPB and five wild pitches cost him as he gave up five hits and six runs. Hall did have two strikeouts on the day. Daniel Foster followed up on the bump coming on in relief of Hall. Foster pitched well once again for the Sailfish only allowing two runs on six hits with two strikeouts and only one walk.
The Sailfish jumped out to a 2-0 lead early but allowed the Spartans to charge back and score six unanswered runs to take a 6-2 lead into the fifth inning. However, a three spot from the 'Fish via a Chris Amparo two RBI single and a fielder's choice from Finley Holmes in the bottom of the fifth brought PBA back within one. Tampa scratched across some insurance runs in the sixth and eighth innings to extend their lead to 8-5. The Sailfish rallied in the bottom of the ninth and got two RBI singles from Patrick Rakes and Amparo to bring the Sailfish within one run but they weren't able to get the tying run across and fell 8-7.
Game Two
Game two was a wild one right from the very beginning. Daniel Langfelder got the start on the mound for PBA to kick off the third game of the series as the Sailfish attempted to avoid the sweep. Langfelder got through 4.1 innings and only allowed four hits and six runs with only two being earned. A.J. Prendergast followed behind him but only got through 0.2 innings before Steve Trone came in.
After Trone was Isaac Beebe. Beebe pitched very well and ate some big innings for the 'Fish. Beebe kept PBA in the game and allowed them to stage a late comeback. Elijah Budiac came in in the top of the twelfth and got a huge strikeout with two on and two outs to give the Sailfish a chance down two runs in the final frame.
Unlike the first two games, the Spartans struck first and held the game's first lead. The Sailfish responded with a four-spot in the bottom of the third on the backs of Giancarlo Chantres and Matthew Faranda who both homered in the inning. The solo blast was the first of Chantres' collegiate career.
However, the Spartans started to take over. After seven innings, the Sailfish were down 11-5, and it seemed any chance of a comeback was dead. However, PBA continued to battle and put up a massive six spot in the bottom of the eighth completed by a Ben Green single that scored Trey Miranda to tie the game at eleven heading into the top of the ninth. The Spartans manufactured two runs in the inning and took a 13-11 lead into the last chance for the 'Fish. Faranda scored on a wild pitch to bring PBA back within one and Aidan Pierre completed another comeback for the Sailfish, this time in the bottom of the ninth with a single to score Amparo.
Both teams went scoreless until the top of the twelfth when the Spartans strung together a few base hits to take a 15-13 lead. With the 7th, 8th and 9th spots coming up for the Sailfish in the bottom half of the inning, the 'Fish needed another big comeback. Unfortunately, PBA went down in order to finish the game and the Spartans completed the sweep.
