ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.- The Palm Beach Atlantic baseball team dropped the first game of their conference series with a 14–5 loss against Eckerd College on Thursday night. 

Eckerd seized control in the third inning, breaking a 1–1 tie with a game-changing play. Corey Hodierne singled, stole second, and scored on Kam Gelwick's double, which took him to third thanks to a throwing error. Christian Cabina followed up with a two-run homer, swinging the momentum to Eckerd.

There were glimpses of a comeback for the 'Fish. In the second inning, Finley Holmes tripled and scored on Ian Pennington's sacrifice fly, offering an early answer. Unfortunately, the team couldn't make the most of other chances, like in the fifth when Giancarlo Chantres led off with a single, only for the inning to close with a double play.

The ninth inning brought a late push, as the 'Fish added four runs with Louis Paolillo's RBI single leading the charge. Still, the early gap created by Eckerd was too wide to bridge.

Jared Murray took the mound for 2 1/3 innings, giving up six hits and five earned runs, while striking out two and walking two, resulting in the loss. Christian Alonso pitched an inning, allowing three earned runs on two hits, with one walk and a wild pitch. Zachary Orloff had a tough outing, allowing five earned runs on three hits and three walks in just 2/3 inning. Jamie McMahon offered two innings of relief, allowing one run on two hits with one strikeout. Ethan Byrd pitched 1 1/3 innings without a hit but issued two walks and hit two batters. Andrew Fernandez closed with a scoreless 2/3 inning, notching one strikeout.

Holmes shone with two hits and a triple, scoring once. Trey Miranda added a hit and a double. Paolillo came through with a bases-loaded hit, driving in a run. Pennington scored a run and picked up an RBI with his sacrifice fly.

The Sailfish return to the field tomorrow afternoon for a doubleheader with first pitch set for 1 p.m.