Box Score WINTER HAVEN — Less than one week after letting an 8-run lead slip away, Polk State Baseball watched a 6-run advantage evaporate on Tuesday night in an 11-6 loss to Pasco–Hernando State College.
The Eagles (11-10) led 6-0 after six innings before the Bobcats pushed across seven runs in the seventh. Pasco-Hernando added four insurance runs in the ninth inning — all with two outs.
For the second time in as many starts against Pasco–Hernando,
Evan Koehler shined for the Eagles. Koehler allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out eight in five shutout innings.
The Polk State bullpen, however, was a different story.
Trevor Caldwell worked a scoreless sixth, but
Sam Duvall,
Dawson Turner, and
Ryan Combs combined to allow 11 runs, 10 earned, on eight hits and five walks. Turner was tagged with the loss.
Offensively, Polk State drew first blood with a run in the third. The Eagles opened things up with four runs in the fourth before adding another in the sixth.
Pierce Glading finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI for Polk State at the plate.
Evan Wainman went 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Polk State finished with 10 hits, but
Ray Mercer's double and triple were the only knocks to go for extra bases.
Nelson Taylor also had two hits in the loss.
With the win, Pasco–Hernando sweeps the 2-game season series from Polk. After winning 10 out of 12 games, the Eagles have now dropped three of four. They'll remain home to take on Indian River State College on Wednesday.
