TAMPA - The bats were clutch for Polk State Baseball on Monday afternoon. The Eagles recorded a total of six extra-base hits, as they defeated Hillsborough Community College, 9-6.
The Eagles (18-11, 3-0 Suncoast), won their sixth straight and clinched the Suncoast Conference opening series over the Hawks (6-21, 0-3 Suncoast).
After the Eagles jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first, HCC retaliated with three runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 3-2 advantage.
Trailing 4-3 in the top of the fourth inning, freshman infielder
Damion Kenealy hammered one to left field that left the premises and tied things up 4-4. The homer was Kenealy's second of the season.
The long ball continued to be crucial to the Eagles' success, as freshman outfielder
Ray Bermudez annihilated a ball over the right field fence for a grand slam to put Polk ahead of Hillsborough 8-4. Bermudez finished the day 3-for-4 with five RBIs. His other two hits went for doubles.
Freshman left-handed starter
Trevor Caldwell battled on the mound to keep the Eagles competitive in the contest. Through five innings, Caldwell conceded four runs with only one earned, as Polk committed six errors defensively on the day. Caldwell walked three and struck out two, as he earned the win to improve to 3-1 on the season.
"I was not pleased with our mental mistakes on the field, but am proud of how we competed at the plate and on the mound to overcome those errors," said Polk Head Coach
Al Corbeil. "Ultimately, you can't complain too much after starting 3-0 in conference play and hopefully we can show up, execute our game plan, and get another one."
Aiden Butler provided another tremendous outing out of the bullpen for the Eagles, tossing 3.2 innings with only two unearned runs conceded and four strikeouts on his way to earning his first save of the season.
Pierce Glading provided an insurance run and the third homer of the day for Polk State in the top of the eighth — a solo shot to left-center to grow the Eagles' lead to 9-4. The Hawks mounted a rally, however, but were only able to muster two runs in the bottom of the eighth.
The Eagles look to go for the series sweep over HCC at Bing Tyus Yard on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
