Box Score WINTER HAVEN — The Polk State bats came to life when it mattered on Friday afternoon as the Eagles rallied Lake-Sumter State College for their fifth straight win, 8-6.

Trailing 4-3 at the seventh-inning stretch, Polk State pushed across four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to go in front for good. Everett Martin, the No. 9 hitter, delivered the big blow with a bases-clearing triple. He would score an insurance run on a sacrifice fly from J'Quann Smith.

The Eagles (5-5) drew first blood with a pair of runs in the first inning. Lake-Sumter, however, answered with four runs in the top of the second. The Lakehawks held that lead until Martin's clutch triple — the lone extra-base of the day for Polk State.

Aiden Butler allowed just one hit over three scoreless innings of relief to earn the win. Polk State added a run in the eighth, but after two for Lake-Sumter in the ninth cut the lead to 8-6, the Eagles turned to closer Ryan Combs. Combs allowed just a hit while striking out two in an inning of work to pick up the save.

Polk State won despite only five hits. Catcher Travis Stapleton scored two of the eight runs for the Eagles.

Polk State will have the chance to get over .500 for the first time this season when the teams meet again on Saturday in Leesburg. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.