WINTER HAVEN - Polk State Baseball responded to a trio of tough games to start the series against State College of Florida-Manatee with a dynamic 5-2 victory in the series finale to avoid being swept. 
 
The Eagles (22-16, 7-5 Suncoast) overcame stranding 13 runners on base offensively, largely thanks to the pitching staff striking out 15 Manatees (21-19, 10-2 Suncoast) on the night.
 
"It was great seeing these guys respond after some tough games this past week," said Polk Head Coach Al Corbeil. "SCF is a very talented team and it took a total team effort to get this result today."
 
The Manatees got on the board first in the top of the first via an errant throw from right field from Cole Griffith after fielding a double that allowed Kevin Karstetter to score from third. 
 
Griffith made amends in the bottom of the second, ambushing a first-pitch fastball into left field to bring Pierce Glading home and tie the game 1-1.
 
Polk's starting pitcher Evan Koehler had an incredible rebound from his start in game one of the series, where he was chased out of the first inning after conceding 10 runs. After allowing the unearned run in the top of the first, Koehler retired seven straight Manatees. The Orange City native allowed just one earned run to SCF while walking three and striking out a season-high 11 batters.
 
Koehler also delivered under pressure, sitting down three consecutive hitters in the top of the fourth after he allowed runners on second and third with no outs.
 
The Eagles manufactured the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fourth. Aris Rivera led off the inning with a single and was advanced to third two hitters later on a double by Roberto Odor. A misplayed grounder by Erick Almonte at second base for SCF allowed Rivera to cross the plate and put Polk ahead 2-1.
 
Odor doubled again off his former Winter Haven High School teammate (SCF starting pitcher Jason Weaver) in the bottom of the fifth — this time bringing Travis Stapleton around third to score and grow the Eagles' advantage to 3-1. A pair of wild pitches with the bases loaded later in the frame helped Polk to make it 5-1.
 
The Manatees got one back in the top of the sixth via an RBI single by Lucas Ismaili.
 
Polk closer Ryan Combs entered the contest in the top of the seventh and had arguably his most dominant outing of the season, retiring all nine of the batters he faced with four strikeouts to earn his NJCAA Region 8-leading eighth save of the season.

Polk State's victory not only allowed the Eagles to avoid the sweep, but it snapped SCF's nine-game winning streak. The Eagles will remain home to face Warner University JV on Friday. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.