WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Polk State Baseball was able to finish this week on a high note with an 8-2 win over University of Tampa (B).
 
Seven different players registered a hit for the Eagles (13-11), while Polk State pitching struck out Tampa (3-6) hitters 14 times.
 
"I would have like to see a little more hustle and execution out of our guys," said Polk State Head Coach Al Corbeil. "But we did have some guys put great efforts out there today offensively and some solid pitching performances we were pleased to see."
 
After a pair of scoreless frames to begin the contest, the Eagles broke the silence with a pair of runs scored in the bottom of the third. Freshman catcher Aris Rivera crossed the plate on a wild pitch to put Polk on the board before freshman infielder Damion Kenealy recorded his first of three RBIs via a rip down the left field line that brought Aaron Stelogeannis home.
 
Sophomore infielder Ray Mercer extended the Eagles' advantage to 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth, dropping one in right field that scored Evan Wainman.
 
Freshman left-handed starter Trevor Caldwell competed well for the Eagles on the mound, striking out eight Spartans over his five innings where he conceded just one run and overcame three early walks. On the day, Tampa hitters were held to a batting average of .182 (2-for-11) with runners on base against Caldwell.
 
Tampa was able to get one back in the top of the fifth off of some defensive miscommunication between Eagles. However, Damion Kenealy responded in the bottom of the frame on a deep fly ball to left field that was able to score Nelson Taylor and make it a 4-1 Polk lead.
 
Sophomore right-handed arm Breton Cusic excelled out of the bullpen for Polk, tossing two no-hit frames over the top of the sixth and seventh, striking out three batters in the process.
 
Kenealy capped off his three-RBI performance with an infield single to shortstop in the bottom of the seventh that gave Roberto Odor the opportunity to score from third.
 
Tampa was able to trim the Polk lead down to 5-2 in the top of the eighth off of an RBI double from Aiden Nolasco. However, the Eagles retaliated with their most productive frame of the day in the bottom of the inning. Following a walk to J'Quann Smith,  Rivera smacked his first collegiate home run over the centerfield wall — a two-run blast that made it 7-2 Polk. An RBI single to right field by Odor later in the inning scored another insurance run for Polk.
 
Having taken the mound in the top of the eighth when the score was 5-2, freshman righty Ryan Combs earned his fourth save of the season, closing out the game with 1.2 innings tossed and three punch-outs.
 
The Eagles are back at home on Monday at 5 p.m. against TNXL Academy.