WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Palm Beach Atlantic baseball team rallied late on Friday night to take a 4-3 victory over the American International Yellow Jackets in game one of a four game series. Jake McNamara led the way for the Sailfish with 3 hits.  

Nolan Smoot had his best start of the season, going five full innings while only allowing three hits, one walk and no runs with five strikeouts. A.J. Prendergast and Lucas Chantres came on relief allowing two and one runs, respectively. Jack Mischke earned the win in one inning of work after shutting the door in the eighth inning.  

The Sailfish opened the scoring in the third inning, on a Patrick Rakes RBI single, taking a 1–0 lead after capitalizing on early offensive pressure. American International struck back, scoring on a ground out with runners on second and third, to tie it at one.  

However, in the bottom half of the inning, the Sailfish quickly reclaimed their lead. Up to bat with two outs, Santi Scheele powered a double into the left field gap to score Kody Kelly.  

The back-and-forth game continued with the Yellow Jackets scoring two runs of their own in the top of the seventh.  

The Sailfish responded in the bottom of the eighth. Trey Miranda, came to the plate with the bases loaded, popped up to shallow right center field. As the second baseman backed up, he was called off by the center fielder. The ball clanked off his glove and fell to the ground allowing Rakes and Giancarlo Chantres to cross the plate and the Sailfish a 4-3 lead.  

Jared Murray closed down the game in the ninth. After walking the lead-off batter, Murray doubled him off at first after catching a soft liner back at the mound. He struck out the final batter of the game to complete the win for the Sailfish. 

Both teams return to the field on Saturday for a doubleheader at the Jake. First pitch is set for noon, and both games are slated to be seven innings.