WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Palm Beach Atlantic baseball team took on the No. 5 Catawba College Indians on Friday at J.M. Jake Rubin Park, falling 8-2. PBA managed to score twice on opening day on seven hits, while the Indians collected 15 hits, including five doubles, to clinch the win.

Dane Hall got the start for the Sailfish and went 2 2/3 innings. He gave up two runs with only one being earned and looked strong in his 42 pitches on the bump. The matchup saw the 'Fish facing a steady offensive output from Catawba. The Indians struck first in the opening inning, capitalizing on an error and a passed ball to jump ahead 1-0. PBA's defense held strong in the third, allowing no runs and just one hit, keeping things close at 2-0. 

Catawba extended their lead in the fourth with two more runs from a double and a bunt single, moving the score to 4-0. PBA responded in the bottom half of the inning with Giancarlo Chantres delivering an RBI single, trimming the deficit to 4-1.

The Indians added another in the sixth, making it 5-1, then put together a three-run burst in the seventh to extend their lead to 8-1. The 'Fish made a final push in the ninth when Ian Pennington singled to right, bringing Jake McNamara home and narrowing the gap to 8-2.

Despite their efforts, the Sailfish couldn't close the gap, with Catawba securing the 8-2 victory.

Jake McNamara tallied two hits in five plate appearances, scored a run, and contributed six assists defensively. Pennington recorded an RBI with a hit in four at-bats and reached base on a walk. Patrick Rakes reached base three times via walks, scoring once in his four plate appearances. On the mound, Nolan Larson pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out two.

The Sailfish return to their home field tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. when they take on Valdosta State.