Box Score BRADENTON — In its four-game series with State College of Florida-Manatee, Polk State Baseball's only hope now is to avoid the sweep. The Manatees clinched the series victory with a seven-inning run-rule win on Monday night, 11-1.

Trailing 2-0 early, Polk State (21-16, 6-5 Suncoast Conference) threatened to take the lead in the fourth inning. After Travis Stapleton singled home Damion Kenealy to cut the lead in half, the Eagles loaded the bases with one out but could get nothing else.

SCF answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Jayce Blalock's two-run double highlighted the inning. From there, the Manatees continued to tack on runs.

On the mound, Ryan Stefiuk went the distance for SCF while striking out seven to pick up the win. Polk State's Trevor Caldwell allowed five runs in three innings to take the loss.

Blalock, Richie Morales, and Kevin Karstetter each finished with two RBIs for State College of Florida. Morales homered for the Manatees. Although the Polk State offense was held to just a single run, Ray Bermudez (3) and Roberto Odor (2) combined for five of the team's eight hits.

The Eagles trailed the Manatees by just a single game in the Suncoast Conference standings when the series began. They now trail by four games as Polk State has lost five of its last six.

Polk State will try to avoid the sweep on Wednesday when the teams square off in Winter Haven. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.