WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Palm Beach Atlantic baseball team had their ten-game winning streak snapped on Friday evening against the Florida Tech Panthers. The Sailfish pulled within one run in the bottom of the eighth but left two runners stranded on second and third. The Sailfish went down in order in the ninth to give Florida Tech the 5-4 win.
The Panthers struck first in the top of with an RBI single from Brett Kelly in the top of the second. However, the Sailfish took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning behind a sacrifice fly by Giancarlo Chantres and an RBI single from Trey Miranda. However, the Sailfish lead did not last long. An RBI single from Marshall Burke and a bases-loaded walk drawn by Roman Samson gave the Panthers a 3-2 lead coming out of the top of the third.
In the top of the 5th inning, Cole Patrick knocked a solo shot out of the park to give the Panthers an insurance run and a 4-2 lead. The Sailfish came back within one run in the bottom of the fifth courtesy of a Chris Amparo sacrifice fly to center field that brough Ben Green across the plate. However, the Panthers scratched another insurance run across the plate in the top of the sixth inning.
The Sailfish looked like they were cooking up a rally in the bottom of the eighth. Chris Amparo started off the inning with a base hit to right field. Aidan Pierre was hit by a pitch in the very next at bat. After Finley Holmes lined out to first base, Kody Kelly drew a walk to load the bases. Jake McNamara stepped up to the plate and immediately took ball one which was a wild pitch that scored Chris Amparo. Unfortunately, McNamara ended up striking out swinging. Ethan Stephens retired Giancarlo Chantres and the Sailfish in order in the ninth to record the save and snap the Sailfish winning streak.
Nolan Smoot records the loss and moves to 0-1 on the season. Smoot threw five full innings and allowed four runs on 11 hits, 1 walk, and two strikeouts and 76 total pitches.
The Sailfish get right back to it on Saturday when they continue the series with Florida Tech. The Saturday doubleheader with the Panthers begins at noon at the J.M. "Jake" Rubin Park.
