WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic baseball team took down the Barry Buccaneers in game one of the series in walk-off fashion this evening at J.M. "Jake" Rubin Park.
Steve Trone collected his second win of the season after tossing 3.2 innings, striking out five, and restraining the Buccaneers to five hits.
Dane Hall was also seen throwing 5.1 innings, retiring five batters, and holding Barry to five hits.
Both teams were quiet in the first inning of play, but the Buccaneers jumped out in front with a 4-0 lead off three hits in the top of the second. PBA responded immediately, seeing
Finley Holmes spark the bottom of the second with a hit-by-pitch.
Kody Kelly followed with a single up the middle to put Holmes in scoring position.
Jake McNamara rips a two-RBI triple down the right field line to move within two of the Bucs (4-2).
Barry was able to tack on another run in the top of the third, but a walk from
Ben Green in the bottom of the third started PBA's rally.
Matthew Faranda moved Green into scoring position with a single through the right side. A
Chris Amparo single through the five-six hole sent Green home to cut the deficit once again, 5-3.
An electric fourth inning saw starting pitcher Hall record a three-up, three-down inning to send the Sailfish back on offense. With an out early in the bottom of the inning, McNamara singled to short followed by a stolen base to place himself in scoring position.
Giancarlo Chantres turned the tides for the Sailfish on a slow roller single to the pitcher. The Bucs failed to execute on defense, giving PBA a chance to capitalize on errors and send McNamara home to even the score (5-5).
Both teams were in a stalemate, looking to find an offensive push. The Sailfish rallied behind pitcher Trone who closed out the seventh and ninth inning with strikeouts to keep the Bucs at bay. Trone's energy carried PBA into the bottom of the ninth, seeing Amaparo with strong plate discipline to record a lead-off walk.
Patrick Rakes capitalized on a defensive error from the Bucs to place Amparo in scoring position. A fielder's choice loaded the bases before a clutch, two-out walk off hit from McNamara secured game one of the series, 6-5.
Palm Beach Atlantic will have a chance to clinch the series with a doubleheader against the Buccaneers tomorrow, April 18. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. (EST).
