WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Palm Beach Atlantic dropped a tough 15-12 loss to Valdosta State at J.M. 'Jake' Rubin Park on a windy, chilly Saturday. Despite a big performance with 18 hits and two home runs, PBA couldn't quite catch up to Valdosta State's impressive 15-run game.
Jake McNamara was a standout, racking up three hits and two RBIs over six trips to the plate.
Patrick Rakes was on fire with four hits, including a pair of doubles, and scored three times.
Ian Pennington added a solo shot to his two-hit game, driving in two runs and scoring twice himself.
Brandon Castellon made a strong showing off the bench, delivering a double among his two hits and bringing home three RBIs in just two at-bats.
Finley Holmes also added a two-run bomb of his own over the left field fence.
Nolan Smoot got his first start of the year for the Sailfish. Valdosta State drew first blood with a two-run triple from Easton Hood in the opening inning. The 'Fish answered back in the second when Pennington smashed a solo homer to right, cutting the lead to 3-1. The fourth inning saw the Sailfish close the gap, thanks to a clutch two-RBI single up the middle from
Kody Kelly, making it 5-3 after Valdosta State had tacked on three more runs.
The visitors pulled away in the fifth, launching a six-run rally capped by Isaiah Pou's RBI single and a string of walks, widening their lead to 11-3. Pou finished the game just a triple shy of the cycle. PBA chipped away in their half of the inning with Pennington's RBI single, edging the score to 11-4.
The eighth inning brought a spark for the Sailfish as Castellon and McNamara each helped ignite a three-run push, bringing the score to 13-8.
In a nail-biting ninth, PBA mounted a late comeback with a two-run blast from
Finley Holmes and a two-RBI double courtesy of Castellon, closing the gap to 15-11.
Trey Miranda's RBI groundout added another run, but Valdosta State held firm, sealing the win at 15-12.
The Sailfish return to the field for the final time of opening weekend on Sunday when they take on Cal State East Bay. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at J.M. 'Jake' Rubin Park.
