Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Polk State Softball swept the St. Thomas University JV squad in a doubleheader for the second time this season on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles gritted out a 5-3 victory in game one before dominating the second contest, 11-0.
 
GAME ONE
 
Sophomore pitcher Kailey Guethle set the tone in the circle for the Eagles, tossing four shutout innings in her start and striking out two batters. Guethle also provided her own run support in the bottom of the first, bringing home Chelsi Rae' Hebert on an RBI bunt single. Hebert crossed the plate again in the bottom of the third, scoring on an RBI groundout off the bat of Alma Fernandez. Hebert finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk.
 
The Eagles grew their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth, when sophomore catcher Alexis Hollinger singled home Suheily Mercado. Hollinger was also 2-for-3 offensively in game one. Freshman infielder Alexis Thomas capped the scoring for Polk in game one, bringing home Kanitria Antenor and Fernandez on a two-run single up the middle.
 
The Bobcats mounted a rally, belting a two-run home run in the top of the sixth to trim the deficit to 5-2. St. Thomas put the tying run on base in the top of the seventh after scoring another run earlier in the frame. However, freshman right-handed pitcher Baileigh Herrera recorded the last out of the contest on a strikeout looking.
 
Guethle improved to 2-0 on the season with the winning decision.
 
GAME TWO
 
The Eagles left no room for doubt for the outcome in the second game, plating nine of their 11 runs over the first two innings to take a commanding 9-0 lead.
 
Freshman first baseman Jillian Hudson had a three-RBI game, going 2-for-3 at the plate in the start. Thomas and Hollinger each had two runs batted in as well.
 
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Kyra Ward posted her second compete-game shutout of the season, retiring 15 of the 17 batters she faced. The only hit Ward conceded in the contest was to the leadoff hitter in the top of the first. The Stuart native improved to 2-2 on the season with the win.
 
"Kyra looked incredibly sharp today and I think the team fed off her performance in game two," said Polk State Head Coach Mark Skapin. "She gave the team a lot of confidence and the bats backed her up with key contributions from numerous players."
 
The Eagles head to Avon Park on Tuesday to face South Florida State College for a doubleheader. Game times are scheduled for 4 and 6 p.m.